F. Financial Literacy · Canadian Money

Which Is Worth More? Comparing Coins and Bills

F1.1About 30 minutes

Learning goals

I can tell which coin or bill is worth more.
I can order coins and bills from least to greatest value.
I can show that some groups of coins or bills have the same value as one coin or bill.

Words to know

worth more
Has a greater value. A dime (10¢) is worth more than a nickel (5¢).

worth less
Has a smaller value.

equal value
Worth the same amount. Two nickels have an equal value to one dime.

order
Put things in a line from least to greatest, or greatest to least.

trade
Swap money for other money that is worth the same.

Let's get started!

Imagine your grandpa says, "You can have a dime or a nickel. Pick one!" The nickel is bigger. Should you pick it?

No! The dime is worth 10¢ and the nickel is worth only 5¢. To know which is worth more, look at the value, not the size. Today you will become an expert at comparing money.

How to compare

The number tells the value, not the size of the coin.
Dollars are worth more than cents coins. Even one loonie ($1) is worth more than a quarter (25¢).
When you compare, ask: "Which number is bigger?" and "Is it cents or dollars?"

Worked example

Which is worth more: a nickel or a dime?

Compare a nickel and a dime.

Find the value of each. Nickel = 5¢. Dime = 10¢.
Both are cents. Compare the numbers: 10 is greater than 5.
So the dime is worth more, even though it is smaller.

The dime is worth more. 10¢ > 5¢.

Worked example

Which is worth more: a quarter or a loonie?

Compare a quarter and a loonie.

Quarter = 25¢ (cents). Loonie = $1 (one dollar).
25 looks bigger than 1, but be careful! The quarter is in cents and the loonie is in dollars.
One dollar is worth 100 cents. 100 cents is much more than 25 cents.

The loonie is worth more. A dollar coin is always worth more than a cents coin.

Ordering the coins

Here are the coins in order from the least value to the greatest value:

nickel 5¢ → dime 10¢ → quarter 25¢ → (fifty-cent piece 50¢) → loonie $1 → toonie $2

Coins ordered from least value to greatest value: 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, $1, $2. Notice the dime is smaller than the nickel, but it comes after the nickel because it is worth more.

Ordering the bills

The bills in order from least to greatest:

$5 (blue) → $10 (purple) → $20 (green) → $50 (red)

All the bills are worth more than all the coins. Even a $5 bill is worth more than a toonie ($2).

The bills on a number line: $5, $10, $20, $50. The farther right, the more it is worth.

Same value, different money

Sometimes a few small coins are worth the same as one bigger coin. We can count by 5s and 10s to find out!

5 nickels: count by 5s, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. Five nickels have the same value as one quarter (25¢).

5 jumps of 5 cents land on 25 cents. 5 nickels = 1 quarter.

2 loonies ($1 + $1) have the same value as 1 toonie ($2).

This...	...has the same value as this	How we know
2 nickels	1 dime	5, 10. That is 10¢.
5 nickels	1 quarter	5, 10, 15, 20, 25. That is 25¢.
2 quarters	1 fifty-cent piece	25 + 25 = 50. That is 50¢.
2 loonies	1 toonie	$1 + $1 = $2.
2 toonies and 1 loonie	1 $5 bill	2, 4, then 5. That is $5.
2 $5 bills	1 $10 bill	5, 10. That is $10.
2 $10 bills	1 $20 bill	10, 20. That is $20.
5 $10 bills	1 $50 bill	10, 20, 30, 40, 50. That is $50.

Equal values. Counting by 5s and 10s helps us compare money.

Worked example

One quarter or two dimes?

Mila can have 1 quarter or 2 dimes. Which is worth more?

One quarter is worth 25¢.
Two dimes: count by 10s. 10, 20. That is 20¢.
Compare: 25 is greater than 20.

1 quarter is worth more. 25¢ > 20¢. (Even though 2 coins sounds like more, the one quarter wins!)

Worked example

A toonie or 3 loonies?

Which is worth more: 1 toonie or 3 loonies?

1 toonie = $2.
3 loonies: count by 1s. 1, 2, 3. That is $3.
Compare: 3 is greater than 2.

3 loonies are worth more. $3 > $2.

Just for fun

What if coins were worth more just for being bigger? Then a giant cardboard circle could buy the whole store! Good thing the value comes from the number, not the size.

Hands-on activity

Play store

Set up a pretend store with toys or food from the kitchen. Put a price tag on each item using only one coin or bill, like 10¢, 25¢, $1, $2, $5, or $10. (Use real coins, or draw paper money with the value written on it.)

Take turns being the shopper and the cashier.
The shopper picks something and pays with the right coin or bill.
Challenge: pay with different coins that have the same value. For example, pay for a 10¢ item with 2 nickels!
Which is worth more? game: each player secretly picks a coin and shows it. The coin worth more wins the round.
Put a handful of different coins in order from least value to greatest value.

Your turn

Which is worth more: a quarter or a dime?

Which is worth more: a $20 bill or a $10 bill?

Put in order from least to greatest value: toonie, nickel, loonie, dime.

How many nickels are worth the same as 1 dime?

How many $10 bills are worth the same as one $50 bill?

Tom has 4 nickels. Ali has 1 quarter. Who has more money?

Is a $5 bill worth more than a toonie?

You have 2 toonies. Your sister has a $5 bill. Who has more?

Math talk

When you're not sure which is worth more, slow down. Say each value out loud, check if it is cents or dollars, and then compare. Explain your thinking: "I know ___ is worth more because..."

More practice: warm-up

Which is worth more: a loonie or a toonie?

Which is worth less: a $50 bill or a $5 bill?

True or false? A quarter is worth more than a loonie.

Fill in the blank: 2 $5 bills have the same value as one ___ bill.

Which is the greatest: $10, $50, or $20?

More practice: on your own

Put in order from greatest to least value: dime, toonie, quarter, nickel.

Leah has 3 dimes. Max has 1 quarter. Who has more money?

How many $5 bills have the same value as one $20 bill?

Which is worth more: 1 toonie, or 1 loonie and 1 quarter?

True or false? 3 nickels have the same value as 1 dime.

Challenge

Find the mistake! Zack says, "5 dimes are worth more than 1 loonie, because 5 coins are more than 1 coin." Is he right?

Show $20 in two different ways using bills.

Mia has 1 toonie and 3 loonies. Ben has one $5 bill. Who has more money, or is it the same? Explain.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which is worth more?

Which list is in order from least to greatest?

How many loonies have the same value as 1 toonie?

Which is worth more: 1 quarter or 3 nickels?

Why is a dime worth more than a nickel even though it is smaller?

Which is worth more: 3 dimes or 1 quarter?

Which has the same value as one $10 bill?

For parents and teachers

What your child is learning: to compare the values of Canadian coins and bills, order them, and recognize simple equal values such as 2 nickels = 1 dime and 2 loonies = 1 toonie (F1.1). This connects to counting by 5s and 10s.

Common mistakes:

Choosing the bigger coin or the larger number of coins as "more money". Ask your child to say each value and compare.
Comparing 25¢ and $1 by the numbers alone (25 > 1). Remind them that dollars and cents are different units, and a dollar is worth 100 cents.
Losing track while skip counting. Have them touch each coin as they count.

How to help: Use real coins. Play Which is worth more? with two coins at a time, trade coins for equal values ("I'll give you a dime for 2 nickels"), and let your child order a few coins from least to greatest. At the store, point out prices and which bill you are using.