How many pennies are in a roll of pennies?

A coin wrapper, sometimes known as a bank roll or roll, is a paper or plastic container for a number of coins. In the 19th century, coins were distributed in large cloth bags and coins were hand wrapped. Since the onset of the 20th century, coin wrapping machines have been in use. The earliest patent for a coin wrapping machine was in 1901. By 1910, automatic coin counting machines which could reject counterfeit coins, wrap coins, and crimp the coin wrapper ends were in use.

History[edit]

In the 19th century coins were collected in cloth bags after they were struck at the mint. Initially coin wrapping was done by hand.[1] In 1913 the Federal Reserve bank was created.[2] After the creation of the Federal Reserve, bags of coins were sent to the individual reserve banks. Each branch then put the coins into paper wrappers with tightly sealed ends. These rolls were called (OBW) "Original Bank-Wrapped Rolls". When other banks wrapped the coins they would print their bank name on the wrapper.[1]

Coin wrapping machines[edit]

1903 Coin Bunching Machine Drawing

On 22, June 1901 James Rice applied for a patent (number 720070) for what he called a "Coin Bunching Machine". The patent was issued on 10 February 1903. Rice described his invention by stating that it was a "efficient manner means for bunching together any preferred number of coins of a selected denomination and holding them in position whereby they may be very conveniently and expeditiously wrapped or covered with a paper jacket."[3]

On 9, November 1907 Erskine W Jennings applied for a patent on a machine he called "Coin Wrapper" which could crimp the ends of the coin rolls. On 3 August 1909 he was granted patent number 930,291. The machine was still not fully automatic.[4]

Automatic coin wrapping machines[edit]

By October of 1908 the first fully automatic coin wrapping machine was created and a patented was applied for. The Automatic Coin-Wrapping Machine Company applied for a patent on the machine and it was granted October of 1910:Patent number number #973335.[5] The applicant of record was Charles S. Batdorf; a man who applied for many coin related machine patents as early as his 1890 (Coin Operated Apparatus).[6] In 1908 he was granted patent number 358,670 for a "Spurious Coin Detector". A machine which he said could, "Provide a means whereby bogus, spurious or counterfeit coins will be rejected by the machine automatically even though they be of the same size as the genuine coins of the value for which the machine is designed to operate."[7]

By 1911 banks in the United States were using coin rolling machines. Some banks began to use standardized paper colors based on denomination. The machines were capable of culling counterfeit and damaged coins.[8]

Modern coin wrapping[edit]

In the United States, empty rolls are available free at most banks in every denomination (though it is becoming increasingly difficult for half dollar and dollar to be readily made available). The rolls come flat and one side will have to be folded to allow for coins to be placed inside. When the roll is full, the top side will need to be folded. Typically, the full rolls are brought back to the banks in exchange for currency or to be deposited. The Royal Canadian Mint uses check weighers to verify the number of coins per roll.[9]

In the Eurozone, empty plastic rolls are used at banks in every denomination, with five-coin staggered rows. The five-coin rows and transparency make quick verification of contents possible, with a high degree of certainty. This results in less time spent processing coins, while the solidity and two-way closure system increase the number of times the coin roll can be used, effectively reducing its overall cost.

In Japan, machine-wrapped, plastic coin rolls are circulated almost exclusively, as handmade coin rolls are rare. Each roll holds 50 coins. Customers can change bills into coin rolls easily using automatic money changers at Japanese banks.

In the United Kingdom, coin rolls are not used. Instead, small plastic bags are provided free of charge at banks which are filled by the customer with the appropriate number of the same value coin as printed on the bag, with these bags also provided by banks when withdrawing amounts of money in coins. When depositing or changing, the bags are weighed at the bank to check they contain the right number.

Searching coin rolls[edit]

Often, coin collectors will ask for full rolls from the bank to search the contents in hopes of finding an interesting or valuable coin. Some collectors also save coins of bullion value, such as copper pennies and silver half-dollars. This practice is called coin roll hunting. It is also known as cherry picking. Full rolls are also requested by vendors to make change.[10] Some coin roll hunters look for Mint-made errors like double die coins. The error coins often have a high numismatic value to coin collectors.[11]

Bank rolls are vulnerable to a variety of scams, such as rolling slugs of no value or coins of a lesser value.[12] In 2018 a scammer in Canada hid washers in coin rolls which were supposed to contain two dollar coins.[13]

Amount in a roll in various countries[edit]

Afghanistan[edit]

Currency: Afghan afghani

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)RedAf.150Afs.50162.5BlueAfs.240Afs.80164PurpleAfs.540Afs.200203.2

Albania[edit]

Currency: Albanian lek

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Gray1 Lek5050 Lek150Red5 Lek50250 Lek156Purple10 Lek50500 Lek180Orange20 Lek25500 Lek≥115

Argentina[edit]

Currency: Argentine peso

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack5 centavos50$2.5100Orange$225$50360Old Bi-metallic coin

Australia[edit]

Currency: Australian dollar
Australian coins used to have different ink colors, but now they all have black ink.

DenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Notes1c50$0.50130obsolete, (in the past, found in red rolls)2c50$1260obsolete, (in the past, found in red rolls)5c40$2113(in the past, found in blue rolls)10c40$4226(in the past, found in purple rolls)20c20$4226(in the past, found in green rolls )50c20$10311(in the past, found in orange rolls can be paper)$120$20200$225$50165

Austria[edit]

Currency: Austrian schilling

DenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Notes2 groschen50S 1obsolete

Bahamas[edit]

Currency: Bahamian dollar
The Bahamas has two different kinds of rolls with the same number of coins. One kind is distinguished by color, while the other is adorned with a light blue background with the Flag of the Bahamas. The rolls here are the ones distinguished by color.

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Blue1 Cent50$0.5087.5Purple5 Cents40$2140Orange10 Cents40$4208Green25 cents40$10200

Bahrain[edit]

Currency: Bahraini dinar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Green5 fils50250 fils125Yellow10 fils50500 fils167.5Purple25 fils50BD 1.25175Pink50 fils50BD 2.50225Blue100 fils50BD 5300

Belgium[edit]

Currency: Belgian franc

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack25 centimes5012.5 francsobsoletePurple50 centimes5025 francsobsolete

Bulgaria[edit]

Currency: Bulgarian lev

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Black1 stotinka5050 stotinki245

Currency: Canadian dollar
Canadian coin rolls are very similar to American coin rolls, with the exception being that rolls for the half dollar do not exist while rolls for the toonie do.

ColorNameDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)BlueNickel5¢40$2.00≥158GreenDime10¢50$5.00≥87.5OrangeQuarter25¢40$10.00≥176BlackLoonie$1.0025$25.00≥156.75PurpleToonie$2.0025$50.00≥173

China, People's Republic[edit]

Currency: Renminbi

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Brown¥0.01 RMB50¥0.50 RMB35Brown¥0.05 RMB50¥2.50 RMB80Blue¥0.10 RMB50¥5 RMB≥56Yellow¥0.50 RMB50¥25 RMB190Red¥1 RMB50¥50 RMB305

Comoros[edit]

Currency: Comorian franc

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesGreen250 FC4010,000 FC340Bi-metallic coin

Currency: Cypriot pound

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed2 cents2550 centsobsolete

Denmark[edit]

Currency: Danish krone

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack1 øre5050 øre≥80obsoleteBlack2 øre501 kr.obsoleteBrown25 øre4010 kr.obsoleteRed50 øre4020 kr.172Purple1 kr.5050 kr.180Holed coinGreen2 kr.2550 kr.147.5Holed coinBlack5 kr.40200 kr.368Holed coinBlue10 kr.20200 kr.140Yellow20 kr.20400 kr.186

Ecuador[edit]

Currency: Ecuadorian sucre

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlackS/.10020S/.2,00071Bi-metallic coin; obsoleteGreenS/.1,00020S/.20,000134Bi-metallic coin; obsolete

Currency: Egyptian pound

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Green25 PT.40£E 10180Purple50 PT.40£E 20260Black£E 125£E 25212.5

Eurozone[edit]

Currency: Euro

Coin rolls in Spain in all eight denominations of the euro.

[14]

Ireland[edit]

Unlike the rest of the eurozone, Ireland uses clear, reusable plastic bags for all denominations.

Spain[edit]

Three of the rolls used in Spain are different from the ones used in the rest of the eurozone.

Italy[edit]

Until 2009, two of the rolls used in Italy were different from the ones used in the rest of the eurozone.

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Yellow€140€40.00300Purple€240€80.00340

Federal Republic of Germany[edit]

Currency: German (Deutsche) Mark

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack1 pfennig5050 pfennings100obsoleteRed2 pfennigs50DM 1≥145obsoletePink5 pfennigs50DM 2.5150obsoletePurple10 pfennigs50DM 5200obsolete

Currency: Fijian dollar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Green5 cents40$2≥96

Finland[edit]

Currency: Finnish mark

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack1 penni5050 pennies≥22.5obsoletePink5 pennies50Mk.2.540obsoleteGreen10 pennies50Mk.5≥50obsolete

Currency: French franc

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed1 centime5050 centimes82.5obsolete

Currency: Greek drachma

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesYellow₯150₯50obsoleteGray₯250₯100obsoleteGreen₯550₯250obsoletePink₯1050₯500obsoleteBlue₯2025₯500obsoleteWhite₯5040₯2,000obsoleteOrange₯10040₯4,000obsolete

Honduras[edit]

Currency: Honduran lempira

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Blue5 Centavos40L 2128Green10 Centavos50L 5300Black20 Centavos50L 10100Red50 Centavos25L 12.50125

Hungary[edit]

Currency: Hungarian forint

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack20 fillér5010 Ft.obsoleteRed10 Ft.50500 Ft.Black20 Ft.501,000 Ft.Red50 Ft.502,500 Ft.

Iceland[edit]

Currency: Icelandic króna

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBrown5 krónur50250 krónur

Indonesia[edit]

Currency: Indonesian rupiah

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)OrangeRp.5025Rp.1,250RedRp.10025Rp.2,50044.75PurpleRp.20025Rp.5,00059.5GreenRp.50025Rp.12,50077.5BlueRp.1,00040Rp.40,000180

Currency: Israeli new shekel

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Yellow10 agorot50₪5.00200Green₪½ (50 agorot)50₪25.00325Blue₪150₪50.00175Purple₪225₪50.00142.5Pink₪525₪125.00205Red₪1025₪250.00175

Currency: Italian lira

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesGreen5 Lire50250 LireobsoleteGreen50 Lire502,500 LireobsoleteYellow200 Lire5010,000 Lireobsolete

Currency: Japanese yen

Japanese coin rolls are made of plastic and are not color-differentiated. Each roll holds 50 coins. Older coin rolls were made out of paper.

DenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Method of differentiation¥150¥5050silver color (aluminum) with smooth edge¥550¥250187.5brass color with smooth edge, holed coin¥1050¥500225bronze color with smooth edge; coins minted between 1951-1958 have reeded edge¥5050¥2,500200silver color (cupronickel) with reeded edge, holed coin¥10050¥5,000240silver color (cupronickel) with reeded edge¥50050¥25,000350brass color (nickel-brass) with helically reeded edge

Lebanon[edit]

Currency: Lebanese pound

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Blue£L2550£1,250Green£L5050£L2,500Red£L10050£L5,000Yellow£L25050£L12,500Gray£L50050£L25,000

Lithuania[edit]

Currency: Lithuanian litas

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack1 Lt.4040 Lt.obsolete

Currency: Malawian kwacha

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Black2 tambala50K1

Currency: Mexican peso

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed1 centavo5050 centavosobsoleteBlack5 centavos40Mex$2obsoleteGreenMex$20025Mex$5,000Non-circulating commemorative coin; obsolete

Moldova[edit]

Currency: Moldovan leu

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)White1 Leu5050 LeiYellow2 Lei2550 Lei

Morocco[edit]

Currency: Moroccan dirham

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRedDhs.540Dhs.200Bi-metallic coin

Netherlands[edit]

Currency: Dutch guilder

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesTurquoise10 cents505 guildersobsolete

New Zealand[edit]

Currency: New Zealand dollar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesPink10 cents50$5Black20 cents25$5Yellow50 cents20$10Blue$125$25Orange$225$50

Currency: Norwegian krone

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlue1 øre5050 øreobsoleteRed2 øre501 kr.obsoleteBrown5 øre502.5 kr.obsoletePurple10 øre505 kr.obsoleteRed25 øre5010 kr.obsoleteGreen50 øre5025 kr.obsoleteOrange1 kr.5050 kr.Turquoise5 kr.50250 kr.Yellow10 kr.50500 kr.Brown20 kr.25500 kr.

Currency: Omani rial

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesGreen5 baisa502.5 Omani rials

Currency: Panamanian balboa

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed1 centesimo5050 centesimosBlue5 centesimos40B/. 2RedB/.1⁄440B/.10

Papua New Guinea[edit]

Currency: Papua New Guinean kina

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed1 toea5050 toeaRed10 toea505 kina

Currency: Peruvian sol

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlackS/.120S/.20

Philippines[edit]

Currency: Philippine peso

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBrown5 sentimo40₱2Blue10 sentimo50₱5

Portugal[edit]

Currency: Portuguese escudo

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlack10 centavos505$00obsoleteRed50 centavos5025$00obsoleteYellow1$002525$00obsoleteBrown5$0040200$00obsoleteBrown25$0020500$00obsolete

Romania[edit]

Currency: Romanian leu

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Red1 ban5050 bani120Yellow5 bani502.50 Lei140.5Pink10 bani505 Lei200White50 bani5025 Lei305

San Marino[edit]

Currency: Sammarinese lira

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesGray10 Lire50500 Lireobsolete

Saudi Arabia[edit]

Currency: Saudi riyal

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Yellow1 halala5050 halalas

Currency: Serbian dinar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Green1 din.5050 din.210Orange2 din.50100 din.252.5Blue5 din.50250 din.289

Seychelles[edit]

Currency: Seychellois rupee

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesYellowRs.10/-25Rs.250/-

Singapore[edit]

Currency: Singaporean dollar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Yellow5 Cents40S$268Green10 Cents50S$5118Blue20 Cents50S$10192.5Red50 Cents40S$20262.4BeigeS$140S$40304.8

South Korea[edit]

Currency: South Korean won

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Yellow₩1050₩50061Pink₩5050₩2,500208Blue₩10050₩5,000271Beige₩50050₩25,000385

Soviet Union[edit]

Currency: Soviet rouble

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBrown1 Rbl.2020 Rbls.obsolete

Currency: Swedish krona

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesYellow10 öre505 kr.obsoleteBlue50 öre5025 kr.obsoleteGreen1 kr.5050 kr.180Red2 kr.50100 kr.240Orange5 kr.40200 kr.244Purple10 kr.25250 kr.165

Switzerland[edit]

Currency: Swiss franc

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesYellow1 rappen50CHF ½≤75obsoleteWhite2 rappen50CHF 1≤150obsoleteRed5 rappen50CHF 2.5090Gray10 rappen50CHF 5150Pink20 rappen50CHF 10200PurpleCHF ½ (50 rappen)50CHF 25110GreenCHF 150CHF 50220BeigeCHF 250CHF 100440BlueCHF 550CHF 250663(in the past, sometimes found in 25 coin, Fr. 125, half-rolls)

Currency: New Taiwan dollar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)YellowNT$1050NT$500375PurpleNT$2050NT$1,000425NT$5040NT$2,000

Thailand[edit]

Currency: Thai baht

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesPink50 satang50฿25Blue฿150฿50Purple฿250฿100Green฿540฿200Orange฿1040฿400Bi-metallic coin

Trinidad and Tobago[edit]

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesBlue1 cent5050 centsobsolete

Turkmenistan[edit]

Currency: Turkmen manat

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRed2 tenge501 manatBlue5 tenge502.5 manatsYellow10 tenge505 manatsBlue2 manats4080 manatsBi-metallic coin

Currency: Ugandan shilling

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesOrange5/=40200/=Black100/=202,000/=Blue200/=204,000/=Green500/=2010,000/=Purple1,000/=2020,000/=Non-circulating commemorative coin

Ukraine[edit]

Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesPink1 Kopiyka500.5₴75obsoleteYellow2 Kopiyky501₴90obsoleteGreen5 Kopiyok502.5₴215obsoleteBrown10 Kopiyok505₴85Black25 Kopiyok5012.5₴145obsoleteBlue50 Kopiyok5025₴212.5Red1₴5050₴340Pink2₴50100₴

United Arab Emirates[edit]

Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham

ColorDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Orange1 fils5050 filsBlack5 fils40200 filsYellow10 fils50500 fils

United Kingdom[edit]

Currency: Sterling
The UK generally uses clear, reusable plastic bags in which a given quantity of coins is weighed. As the UK has traditionally relied on weight when counting coins, a conscious effort was made to ensure that the weight of 1p, 2p, 5p & 10p coins remained constant following the changes to their composition (from copper to copper-plated steel in 1992 for the 1p & 2p, and the 2008 change from copper-nickel to nickel-clad steel for the 5p & 10p coins). Relative densities of the respective metals meant that the thickness of the later coins was increased to maintain the coin's weight, thereby making coin rolls impractical; the differences in thicknesses are more notable in the 5p & 10p coins.

The proportional dimensions of pre-decimal coins continued past Decimal Day, meaning that the 2p and 10p coins weighed twice the 1p and 5p respectively; this correlation was continued when the 5p (1990) and 10p (1992) coins were reduced in size, leading to the situation that full bags of 1p and 2p coins, and 5p and 10p coins, have the same weight, and whilst banks discourage mixed coinage, it is possible to mix these denominations.

DenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)Notes1⁄2p100£0.50Obsolete1p100£1Previously in 50p coin bags; weight equal to bag of 2p coins2p50£1Previously in 50p coin bags; weight equal to bag of 1p coins5p100£5Weight equal to bag of 10p coins10p50£5Weight equal to bag of 5p coins20p50£10Formerly green-coloured bag50p20£10Formerly yellow-coloured bag£120£20Formerly red-coloured bag£210£20

United States[edit]

Currency: United States dollar

Each denomination has a different amount found in a roll and are color-coded by denomination. See below:

ColorNameDenominationCountTotal ValueWeight (g)NotesRedPenny1¢50$0.50≥125BlueNickel5¢40$2.00200(in the past, sometimes found in 20 coin, $1.00, half-rolls)GreenDime10¢50$5.00≥113.4(in the past, sometimes found in 30 coin, $3.00 rolls)OrangeQuarter25¢40$10.00≥226.8(in the past, sometimes found in 20 coin, $5.00, half-rolls)TanHalf Dollar50¢20$10.00≥226.8(sometimes found in 40 coin, $20.00, full-rolls that are closer in size to other denominations rolls)GreySmall Dollar$1.0025$25.00≥202.5WhiteLarge Dollar$1.0020$20.00453.6obsolete (in the past, sometimes found in 10 coin, $10.00, half-rolls)N/AQuarter Eagle$2.5040$100.00-obsoleteN/AHalf Eagle$5.0040$200.00-obsoleteN/AEagle$10.0050$500.00-obsoleteN/ADouble Eagle$20.0025$500.00-obsolete

In the United States, it is also common for coin dealers and online bullion shops to produce their own rolls of pre-1965 silver coinage for the purpose of selling them to customers; these rolls may be the same size and face value as those produced by banks, or may exist in half, full and double sizes.[15]

How many pennies does a penny roll hold?

How much is 50 pennies worth?

How much is a penny roll?

How many is in a roll of nickels?