NZ Coins and Notes: Count and Make Money

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What this lesson covers

  • New Zealand coins are 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2.
  • New Zealand notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
  • A bigger coin is not always worth more.
  • Group the same coins, count each group, then add.
Key idea

Our coins and notes

  • There are 100 cents in a dollar.
  • Coins are for small amounts. Notes are for bigger amounts.
smallest to biggest value
CoinsNotes
10c$5
20c$10
50c$20
$1$50
$2$100
Key idea

Size is not value

  • The 50c coin is bigger than the $1 coin, but it is worth less.
  • $1 is 100 cents, so it is worth more than 50c.
  • Order money by what it is worth, not by how big it looks.
Worked example

Group the same coins, then count

  • Put the same coins together. Skip count each group.
  • Four 20c coins: 20, 40, 60, 80. That is 80c.
CoinsCountTotal
4 × 20c20, 40, 60, 8080c
5 × 10c10, 20, 30, 40, 5050c
3 × $22, 4, 6$6
3 × $55, 10, 15$15
Key idea

Maths blocks

Worked example

Add the groups together

  • Two $2 coins and three $1 coins: $4 and $3. That is $7.
  • One 50c, two 20c and one 10c: 50c, then 90c, then $1.
GroupsValuesTotal
2 × $2 and 3 × $1$4 + $3$7
1 × $20 and 2 × $10$20 + $20$40
Worked example

Make an amount

  • Start with the biggest coin or note that fits, then fill up.
  • There is often more than one way.
AmountUsingOne way
$35notes$20 + $10 + $5
$1coins50c + 20c + 20c + 10c
$1coins50c + 50c
$5coins$2 + $2 + $1
Key idea

Try it: pay the exact amount

Common mistakes

  • The 50c coin is worth more than the $1 coin, because it is bigger.
    Size does not tell the value. $1 is 100 cents, so it is worth more than 50c.
  • Five 10c coins make 5c.
    Each coin is worth 10c. Count in tens: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. That is 50c.
  • A $20 note and a $10 note make $2, because there are 2 notes.
    Add the values, not the number of notes: $20 + $10 = $30.

Your turn

1

Which is worth more, 50c or $1?

2

How much are three $2 coins?

3

How much are four 20c coins?

4

Which two notes make $25?

5

Put in order, smallest value first: $10, $5, $50.

Show answer

1. $1 2. $6 3. 80c 4. $20 and $5 5. $5, $10, $50

Summary

What to take away

  • Coins: 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2. Notes: $5 to $100.
  • Order by value, not by size.
  • Group the same coins and skip count.
  • Make an amount from the biggest piece that fits.
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More in Number

Numbers to 120: Read, Write and CompareNotesGroups of Ten and Where Numbers Sit on a LineNotesRounding, Skip Counting, Odd and EvenNotesAdding and Taking Away: Facts to 20 and TensNotesStory Problems: Adding and Taking Away to 100NotesTimes and Share: 2s, 5s and 10sNotesHalves, Thirds and QuartersNotesComparing Fractions and Finding the WholeNotesNZ Coins and Notes: Count and Make MoneyNotes

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