Jim,
Thanks for the blog. I’m a huge fan, and your blog is literally a rock-solid anchor for me and my family during all this turmoil.
I took “Rick in Kentucky’s” claim that he could get $190 worth of nickels into an ammo can as a challenge. My ammo is flat green can has yellow paint on it which reads as follows: “200 CARTRIDGES, 7.62 MM, NATO 0 M80…” I took out a full can that I have where the coins are arranged laying down, dumped out the rolls, and started stacking vertically as described by Rick. It was quite a trick to insert the last one in the corner of the bottom row. But it works out! 4×12 x2 high x2 dollars each = $192 dollars and 45.9 pounds. Wow, I could easily see where there is even a slightly dented ammo box that it would be impossible.
One could get away with adding [loose] individual nickels to bump up the value, but certainly not to the $200 threshold, and of course, then the can’s contents would no longer be all rolled coins. – Jeff in Colorado Springs
Hi James,
Regarding the letter about fitting more nickels into a standard U.S. 30 Caliber ammunition can. One reader wrote that he could get $190 worth into a can.
I have been experimenting trying several stacking methods and I found one that I like the best. I stack the nickel rolls vertically (on end, standing up) four to a row across the width of the ammo can. (Think of like stacking one shotgun shell on top of another.) Each of the two layers takes 11 rows of 4 plus one odd row of 3. That makes 47 rolls per layer equaling 94 rolls total. I’ve tried everything to squeeze the last roll in on each layer but it just won’t go. Interestingly, it makes it easier to pull the rolls out having one roll missing per layer. This makes for $188 of coins per can. I call this method “the standing shotgun shell technique” of coin roll stacking/packing, LOL.
What I like about this system is that when you open the can, you are able to immediately see what’s in the can; that there are 4 standing rolls across, and 11 columns of 4 plus one odd column of 3. It’s great, because at a glance I can tell how many are in the can and it’s very easy to count. Using the other method, it’s a lot like guess work, particularly if any bottom layer has odd numbers by not stacking directly one on top of another.. It’s also very easy to pull a roll straight up and out.
I tried prying that last coin roll in to each layer and couldn’t do it, but I’ll happily settle with 94 rolls per can equaling $188. It amazes me how versatile the ammo can is, and what a great idea it is to use these containers. Thanks for all your good work. – M.
JWR Replies: Thanks for doing that experimentation, folks.