In Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything, my grandfather Gumpy gave me a math problem while he was tapping his fingers together. Here’s what it was:
“Let’s say (tap, tap) there’s eighty-three cents in my pocket,” he said. “What’s the fewest number of coins I could have?”
“United States coins?” I asked.
He nodded (tap, tap).
I thought for a few seconds and answered, “Four.”
His forehead wrinkled up like he was surprised at me. “Nope. Six. A half-dollar, a quarter, a nickel, and three pennies.”
But I proved I was right . . . and he was amazed.
Did you figure it out?
Most kids think the correct answer is seven: three quarters, a nickel, and three pennies.
But that’s wrong because most kids don’t even think about a half dollar because they usually never see one. (I can’t remember the last time I held a half dollar!) But Gumpy knew about half dollars. That’s why he thought the answer was six.
So why is the correct answer four coins? Because in the 19th Century—at two different times, 1851-1873 and 1865-1889—the United States minted three-cent coins. I learned that when I was researching the 1909 Lincoln Cent that Georgie and I found in his basement.
I have never seen a three-cent coin for real.
If you want to try to puzzle your family and friends with questions like this, you need to know that the United States also had twenty-cent, two-cent, and half-cent coins.
Update: Look what I got in the mail!
Here’s what was in the letter. I made the image much, much larger so the details are visible. You can see that it’s not the same as the three-cent coin above. The USA made two different designs in the 19th century. And now I actually own one. How cool is that?!
Love seeing my son who’s 11 actually reading a book. Such a nice change from all the technology! Thank you 🙂
How do you make exactly 83 cents using 20 coins without using quarters
16 nickels, 2 pennies, and 2 half-cents = 20 coins.
Good one!
At first I thought it looked like an Oreo Cookie
You would break a tooth if you bit it.
i like your books it helps me
Thanks, Christina!
how many coins make 83 cents pls i need to lean it halp me
Just read what I wrote above. The answer is right there!
Thank you. you are nice to people. and pls i like the way you spell my name
Oh no! I misspelled your name and you were really nice about it! Sorry, Christiana!
I’m from Pritchett and WHOA!
Your books are so amazing,extraordinary,and epic. I remember when you came to Pritchett school i loved the story about the mad man and you dragged a guys arm 😀
I hope you had a good time when you were carrying Stacey in the picture yay!
Pritchett ROCKS! I had a great time at your school.
hi Cheesie Mack I love all of your awesome books I am reading all of them. I want to be a writer one day maybe you can give me advice about it since you write awesome books and everyone loves them.I love how you also use educational things in the book too ( I love learning I call myself a nerd and I am proud of it) I am in fourth grade and live in Dumont new jersey.i home you can tell me some advice about becoming a writer but if you can not that’s fine.
from
Anna kordzakhia
Dear Anna—
You already are a good writer. I can tell that from your comment. The best advice I can give is to practice. You should write something (it doesn’t matter what) everyday. It’s just like soccer or piano playing. The more you do it, the better you get.
I love your books!! They are soooooooooooooooo awesome!! My friend, Frosting loves these books too. Anyway, I would love it if you wrote 200 more books. Frosting’s name is actually Callie. Do you remember when you visited our school? If you don’t remember the name of our school, your grandson goes there. Callie just told me that because of my email address, you know that your grandson goes there (unless you are like the average grandparent who doesn’t remember things that often). Just to let you know, my mom has a 1885 half dollar (she’s not trading it out for anything. It was her mom’s).
Your school rocks!
Where did you find that coin.i love your books!!!
Thank, Cheesie Fan (Isabella). If you’re asking about the three-cent coin with the hole in it…someone named Andy mailed it to me.
you are smart. wats ur real name?
Ronald Apton Mack. You can see my whole family tree here.
amazing knew about half dollar but not the rest!!!!
Coins are neat, huh?
Yes they are
That is sooo intercool!!! I never knew there was a 3 cent coin!1
It is sOoOoOoOo col
I <3 your books!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Qwerty!
Dear Cheesie Mack,I think your books are great and I think I have another hint to the problem in book one your Grumpy gave you, he was tapping his fingers four times and that is what I thought before I came to your website for the first time. I also think you should have some games on this site because sometimes I might want to see what you look like and what your life is like. How come you invite yourself over to eat? I think that tuna fish sandwiches are delious.
Your favorite reader,
Rachel
P.S eat your corn
Thanks, Rachel.
Games are hard to make.
Don’t forget to eat your corn🌽🌽🌽🌽
Thanks, Rachel.
I like games, too. But they are hard to make.
Omg ily and your books. Theyre so funny! Keep writing!
I definitely will. Thanks, Rebecca!
hi i found a coin in a big box at my nonnies house andit was from either from 18161 or 1863 sorry i dont have a picture of it but when i get one ill show you and actully yu visited my school today,Christa McAuliffe it wa very fun thank you
from jamie
Your coin could be very valuable.
Hi, Cheesie! I really like your splenderful (splendid plus wonderful) first book! I found two pennies! (or Lincon cents!) I tried to look closely at them, and guess what I saw! A very tiny VDB! I know that you (or maybe Glenora Jean Prott) said in your first book, Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything, That those coins are very valuable! But they look kind of rusted. Should I keep them or sell them?
Lucky you! I would take them to a coin dealer and find out what they are worth. Then make up my mind.
Hey,Cheesie, my sister has 10 half-dollar coins! By the way, she has a messed up room! Also at my school we take AR tests, on books, and I made 100% on my test I made on your book! My sister likes you, and she’s in 6th grade, plus you live all the way up in Massachusetts!(I don’t remember when you told me, but I don’t know where you live. I spelled Massachusetts right the 1st time!) And my cat just blooped(mixture of bloped and pooped, I don’t really know why my sister thought of that) on my foot and now it is numb.
That is a very interested comment about LOTS of things.
That’s so cool that ‘Andy’ (I think) sent that to you!
Yeah. I love it!
your book is AMAZING!!! i can’t believe you can write so good! i read a lot so i know a lot of words to!
Thank you, Charlotte (which is, in my opinion, a very cool name).
how old are you?
I was 11 on August 16.
Hi. your a boy, right? well, i was wondering and how should i know if a boy likes me?
Gosh…I am definitely not a genius or anything when it comes to boy & girls and stuff like that. Don’t ask me. I don’t understand a bit about it.
well, what would you do if you liked somebody?
It is quite the trouble…
I’m. Reading your book right now and your sister is mean maybe get her witha prank and tell Alex welch to back off.ive always Been bad at math what should I do?!?(I study every day )
The math question is hard to answer (I’m not a teacher or an authority on how to learn math). I guess the best way to get better in math is to find a way to get more interested in the subject. I have always found that if I’m interested in something, I remember it better.
i HATE math!!!!
Some kids are good at math and some aren’t. If you’re not good at it, you shouldn’t hate it because math is really important in all of life. I happen to be good at it (I guess I’m lucky my brain works that way), so it’s easy for me to stay interested. But if you aren’t good at it, you just have to try harder. I’m serious. it’s really important when you grow up. My dad drives limos, and because it’s his own business, he tells me he uses math all the time. Same with every other adult I know. I think everyone uses math in their lives.
It’ll get better if you don’t get angry or upset, Charlotte…I promise.
It is 4 coins because it is only 4 different types of coins
i own a 1904 cent! It looks weird but says its a United States Cent at least!
If it’s US money from 1904, it has to be an Indian Head cent. If it isn’t, something’s wrong.
Wow
thanks for coming to my school warner
now im in pope the one near it.
thank you
your books are the only one my dad likes me to read!
im a big fan please email me back
I have to say…I think I like your dad!
You are my favorite author thank you for the books and stumping my brother on the coin trick
Thank you, Samantha!
Wow
I did some research, and apparently 3 cent nickels were initially composed of 75% silver and 25% copper so that people wouldn’t melt them for the silver.
That’s great research. I did not know that.
Yeah, pretty cool, huh?
I’m back and are you going to update this page? anyway I still think this is neat(sorry I’m typing so much again!).
This is too freaking complicated. I think my brain will crack into tiny pieces now.
could the answer to the puzzle also be
1 half dollar
1 20-cent piece
1 dime
and a three cent piece???????????????????????????????????????
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-cent_piece_(United_States_coin)
says that there are 20 cent pieces
Whoa! Great answer. You are RIGHT!
you are a genious per!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cool!
Cool!
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never even heard of a 3cent
Me neither until I did some research on the web.
You used a 3 cent coin!
I LOVE your book Cheesie i got your second book too i cant wait until i finish the first
P.S: i am sorry i paid you the wrong ammount the first time but i sent you the extra money in an envelop (hehehe)
Thanks, Mark. I got the check.
Did you know it is called a 3 cent nickel?
I never knew that! That is really interesting. Thanks.
HEY CHEESIE, what is up, I just finished your first book, AND LOVED IT
I loved it to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do you know how much they are worth (48$)!
I guess you are talking about my 3-cent coin…but it’s actually not worth anything because of the hole in it. Doesn’t matter to me, though. I love it!
Don’t forget to reply.
Cheesie my man,my grandfather has lots and lots of half-dollars.He comes from the time where African Americans had too work in the cotton fields.
I have read about working in cotton fields. It was very hard work. Your grandfather must’ve been a strong man.
my papa gives me silver dollars each year i love your books!!!!!!
Granpa has a whole box of silver dollars and half dollars. I think he will give them to me someday. (I hope!)
Cheesie? respond now, or else I will sue you
That’s rude
Sam, you are pretty rude. If you don’t like my books, why don’t you tell me
why, rather than just threatening me like a lawyer?
y do people do things so mean to u
When I started your book, I thought it was Ok. At the end, I thought I would be scarred for life, that’s how bad your book is!
Sam, you are pretty rude. If you don’t like my books, why no tell me why, rather than just threatening me like a lawyer?
You suck Cheesie! You are the worst writer ever!
Pretty boss coin ya got there
I am so happy to have it. I don’t know any other kids with a three-cent coin.
That is awesome wish I had one
Cool. I have a 2 dollar bill. Maybe i’ll send one or 2.