#1 by Mark Sisley: Sun Jul 29, 2007 13:03 EST (UTC -5)

I don't really have an inherent desire to write a post, but I'll venture a guess nonetheless with a bit of scientific reasoning.

I have a change bag that currently weighs 7.5 lbs. One night in my dorm last year, my friends and I counted the contents of it, and found it to be $36.15, or something in those whereabouts. Now, I'm going to assume that your random change collecting has been about as random as mine, and as such will guess that you have $42.00. The reasons for this are twofold:

First, you have about half a pound more change than me. $36/7.5 pounds = 4.8 dollars per pound. 4.8 * 8 = $38.40. This is a bit short of $42.00, but that brings me to reason number two.

You see, 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. It's therefore only appropriate that the answer to your puzzle be 42 also. I'll venture out and hope that you have a few more quarters than I did to make up for the slightly incorrect ratio I'm estimating.

Now, to ask you that which I wanted to ask in the comment in the first place: How will you be going about selling your change? Are you going to put it in rolls of quarters and take it to a bank, or just go the coinstar route? I hate the idea of Coinstar ripping 8 cents of every dollar out of my cold, lifeless fingers. I have heard that if you get gift certificates they won't do that, though. Maybe that would be the better route: Giving my money to a struggling to survive international powerhouse of a corporation instead of Coinstar.

#3 by Craig Rohrer: Sun Jul 29, 2007 16:14 EST (UTC -5)

Enter my guess as $45. Are you going to check each coin to see if it is on Flip-A-Coin?

#4 by Mark Sisley: Sun Jul 29, 2007 16:16 EST (UTC -5)

Hey! That's suspiciously like a The Price is Right bid :-) I suppose it's ok, though. At least you didn't bid $42.01...

#5 by Daniel: Sun Jul 29, 2007 16:28 EST (UTC -5)

$100.44

Assuming (and yes, I know I can't reasonably assume this) that 1. all change was received from paying for something with a dollar bill, or bills, 2. all change was given in the most optimal way (never 2 nickels, as that would make 1 dime instead, never 5 pennies, when you could use a nickel, and so on) 3. the change from said transaction was put in the jar indiscriminately (not being like, pennies are worthless, I'll just try to toss them into the wastebasket from 12 feet); you can easily find the average distribution of coins in each transaction.

You'll at most have 4 pennies, but you could have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. So on average, you'll get 2 pennies. Repeating the process with every coin, 1.5 quarters, 0.8 dimes, 0.4 nickels. Adding the weights of said coins is 17.319 g for the 49.5 cents on average based on those optimal possibilities. Converting measurements to pounds, and subtracting a few ounces for the jar, I come to $100.44

#6 by casey: Sun Jul 29, 2007 16:31 EST (UTC -5)

I dont remember my original guess. I think it was $52.63 but the real amount will probably be higher.

#8 by Peter: Sun Jul 29, 2007 16:47 EST (UTC -5)

Using highly variable math, I come up with the high value of $98.97. Using data from this hopefully reliable website.

Im in ur blog writing ur posts

#9 by Kirsten: Sun Jul 29, 2007 18:24 EST (UTC -5)

According to a Google search, I found this website that values a pound of change at $10.60. Taking into consideration your estimate of 8lbs, that would make $84.80.

Now, I was never good at guessing games of this sort, but having spent so much time cashiering, I know that the average till will hold, if you fill the coin slots to the brim, $3.00 in pennies, $8.00 in nickels, $35.00 in dimes, and $50.00 in quarters, assuming that there was no other loose change in the till and only whole rolls of coin were opened. This brings the total to $96.00. I'll enter my guess as $96.00. This also earns the cashier who filled up the coin trays like that a huge smack in the head from the supervisor who has to count that till later.

Are you going to pick the person who gets the closest without going over, a la The Price is Right?

And one more note - if you were to deposit all that coin into your account rather than just change it, does your bank still charge a fee? It's all legal tender and they should deposit it all without charging a fee. All cash should be deposited equally. If they don't, then make smaller deposits. Or, just save the money as spending money. Whatever method you can come up with to get the most out of your money.

BTW, I once saw a half-full 6 gallon water bottle get deposited by Coinstar. It was ~$1,400. Whoever said that saving change doesn't pay off?

#10 by Kirsten: Sun Jul 29, 2007 18:25 EST (UTC -5)

I seem to have trouble posting comments to wordpress today. I guessed $96.00

#11 by Kirsten: Sun Jul 29, 2007 18:26 EST (UTC -5)

PS - deposit your change, they shouldn't charge a fee for that as all cash deposits should be treated equally. If they don't take it all at once, make smaller deposits.

#12 by kristen: Sun Jul 29, 2007 18:38 EST (UTC -5)

can i still guess? i know i won't win, but i'm going to venture a guess. $58.22 is it!

#13 by Daniel: Sun Jul 29, 2007 19:45 EST (UTC -5)

Lol what's with all the people undercutting and overshooting people by like $4? This isn't the price is right!

btw, I think these guesses should have been done anonymously.

#14 by Gilbert: Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:39 EST (UTC -5)

It should be around 15 to 20 dollar total... I lean more towards 15.

#16 by Peter: Mon Jul 30, 2007 19:36 EST (UTC -5)

I'm mad that people have sandwiched my guess. How about this: If I don't win, I'll let you guest post on my blog in exchange for me guest posting on your blog. More of a benefit for me, but I don't lose anything for trying.

#18 by bobbygeorgina: Sun Aug 05, 2007 04:48 EST (UTC -5)

$16.11...That is my guess. :-)

#19 by Luke: Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:22 EST (UTC -5)

$55.55

#20 by Mark Myers: Mon Aug 06, 2007 08:59 EST (UTC -5)

$78.87

#21 by casey: Mon Aug 06, 2007 17:40 EST (UTC -5)

ya'll are like all up on my guess here. i think we need to spread out these guesses a little.

#22 by the natasha: Mon Aug 06, 2007 20:22 EST (UTC -5)

i think there is approximately 78 dollars.
canadian :D

#24 by Ryan McFarland: Wed Aug 08, 2007 02:55 EST (UTC -5)

Put me down for 82.22.

#25 by Laura: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:21 EST (UTC -5)

$62.36..no reason, it just sounded like a good number.

#26 by Todd: Fri Aug 10, 2007 23:39 EST (UTC -5)

I guess: $80...had to think awhile there, remembering US currency doesnt have 1 or 2 dollar coins, then discovering you have a 50 cent coin.

#28 by sean: Sat Oct 06, 2007 01:54 EST (UTC -5)

what a dick. did he really have everyone make bets and then not tell us how much it was?

#30 by Lyla: Fri Nov 20, 2009 18:32 EST (UTC -5)

If he does not take this "game" serious, this can be the reason he does not have so much as he would like to...