Hi there. This math post is a child-friendly guide on Canadian coin values. (You can also use this guide for American coins.) Having young children learn the basics of math and money is very crucial. It is assumed that the young student is able to do multiplication (up to 12).
Pictures of the single coins are from my phone.
Coin Values
The value of coins can be introduced starting from the penny all the way to the toonie. We start with cents as the unit.
Penny
One penny is one cent. The penny is not used anymore as prices are too high for the penny to be useful. (You could explain inflation to a child but that may be too much. That is for another time.)
Nickel
This silver looking coin is the nickel. One nickel is worth 5 cents.
Dime
This small coin is called a dime. One dime is worth 10 cents.
Quarter
This large looking coin is worth 25 cents and is called a quarter. This is a quarter as 25 cents is a quarter of 100 cents or a quarter of one dollar.
Loonie
This coin is called a loonie or a Canadian dollar. In cents the loonie is worth one hundred cents.
Toonie
A two dollar (200 cent) Canadian coin is called a toonie.
Value Of Multiple Coins
The previous section dealt with a single coin. What if we have multiple coins? What would the value of various multiple coins be? Here are some examples.
Example One
How many cents are in 3 nickels?
Each nickel is 5 cents. Three nickels would be 15 cents as you can do 3 x 5 = 15.
Example Two
How many cents are in 2 loonies?
Each nickel is one dollar or 100 cents. Two loonies is two dollars or 200 cents (2 x 100).
Example Three
How many cents are in 10 dimes?
One dime is worth 10 cents. To obtain the value of 10 dimes, do 10 multiplied by 10 to get 100 cents or 1 dollar.
Example Four
What is the value of 5 quarters in cents?
One quarter is worth 25 cents. Having five quarters would be 125 cents as you can multiply 25 cents by 5.
Example Five (Combination Of Coins One)
What is the combined value of 3 pennies, 2 nickels and 5 dimes?
When it comes to this type of problem break it down into parts and then add them together. Each penny is one cent so three pennies is 3 cents. Two nickels is 10 cents from 2 x 5. From the 5 dimes we have 50 cents.
Combining the values of the pennies, nickels and dimes we have:
The total value of 3 pennies, 2 nickels and 5 dimes is 63 cents.
Example Six (Combination Of Coins Two)
What is the combined value of 3 quarters, 2 dimes, 3 nickels, 2 loonies and 1 toonie?
Here is a chart.
| Coin | Quantity | Amount In Cents |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 3 | 15 |
| Dime | 2 | 20 |
| Quarter | 3 | 75 |
| Loonie | 2 | 200 |
| Toonie | 1 | 200 |
The total amount here is 510 cents or five dollars and ten cents. This is from 15 + 20 + 75 + 200 + 200 = 510.
Practice Problems
Find the value of each of the following.
14 pennies.
4 nickels
11 dimes
7 quarters
8 toonies
2 dimes and 5 nickels
7 pennies and 3 loonies
3 pennies, two dimes, three quarters and two toonies
1 nickel, three dimes, one quarter, three loonies and one toonie
12 nickels, 5 dimes, three loonies and 3 quarters.
Answers To Practice Problems
14 cents.
20 cents.
110 cents or one dollar and ten cents.
175 cents
1600 cents or $16 dollars.
75 cents
307 cents or three dollars and seven cents.
498 cents or four dollars and ninety-eight cents
$5.60 or 560 cents
$4.85
Ways To Make Certain Amounts Of Money
Given an amount in dollars or cents you can create different ways to make those amounts with pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies and toonies.
Example One
What is one way of having 62 cents?
You can do two quarters, a dime and two pennies.
Example Two
What is one way of having $2.37 cents?
Start with a toonie which is two dollars. Next would be one quarter which is 25 cents. Add a dime and two pennies.
Practice Problems
Come with ways of obtaining the following amounts with pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies and toonies. Try to use at least two types of coins for each.
15 cents
35 cents
17 cents
$1.12
$2.22
$8.88
Answers To Practice Problems
Answers will vary. Here are some sample answers.
One dime and a nickel.
Three dimes and a nickel.
Three nickels and two pennies.
One loonie, a dime and two pennies.
One toonie, two dimes and two pennies.
Eight loonies, three quarters, one dime and three pennies.
