Exact change wallet card

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"So what is the fewest number of coins you can carry that allows you to produce any exact change?The answer is 10 coins, 3 Quarters, 1 dime, 2 nickel, and 4 pennies. With this combination you can produce any number between 1-99 cents."

Here's how to make an exact change coin-holding card that fits in your wallet. Link (via Make)

Reader comment:

Andrew Neal of Chapel Hill Comics says:

You have the amount of dimes and nickels switched: it should be two dimes and one nickel, not vice-versa. Make seems to have it right on their page, so I suspect they fixed it after you cut and pasted!

I'm in retail so this jumped out at me; the only reason for two nickels is if you don't have a dime!

Reader comment:

Kevin says:

While the correction that has been posted to this article is true (ie: you don't need 2 nickels if you have a dime), it is also more expensive. $1.04 vs $0.99

Reader comment:

Blar says:

Actually, both combinations work. You can make any amount of change if you have one dime and two nickels, or if you have two dimes and one nickel. (If half dollars are an option, though, then both options are wrong and you can make exact change with only nine coins.)

Also, for the record, the Instructables website continues to say "1 dime, 2 nickel" just as you quoted. They list "2 dimes and 1 nickel" for an alternative 6-coin, penny-free change container (either option works in that case as well).