# How much would a ton of cash be worth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993 "2005-01-04T05:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/1 "2005-01-04T05:06:39Z")
Obviously, it depends on the denomination of the bills, but how many bills would be needed to make a ton? I recall that the Federal Reserve branch in Chicago has a cube of $1 million in singles, but can’t seem to find how much it weighs. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/2 "2005-01-04T05:27:39Z")
According to [this](http://www.enchantedlearning.com/math/money/bills/one/) and other sites, US bills weigh 1 gram, regardless of denomination. Given this, it would take 908,000 bills to make up one ton. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/3 "2005-01-04T05:36:17Z")
Thanks for the answer. Man, my bank account now seems literally anemic… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/4 "2005-01-04T05:52:00Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#): > > Thanks for the answer. Man, my bank account now seems literally anemic… So, it’s lacking red blood vessels? I didn’t think you could open an account at that kind of a bank. I don’t think that word means what you think it means. (I mean ‘literally’, not anemic.) ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/5 "2005-01-04T06:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > So, it’s lacking red blood vessels? I didn’t think you could open an account at that kind of a bank. > > I don’t think that word means what you think it means. (I mean ‘literally’, not anemic.) I agree–and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine because it diminishes the impact those cases when expressions actually are “literally” true. However, “anemic” refers to a relative paucity of erythrocytes–red blood cells, not vessels. Literally. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/6 "2005-01-04T09:37:03Z")
> [@KP](#): > > I agree–and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine because it diminishes the impact those cases when expressions actually are “literally” true. If precise usage is very important to you, then you should immediately stop using “impact” as a synonym for “effect.” Write however you want; I’m just saying, remove the mote from thine own eye… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/7 "2005-01-04T09:54:48Z")
How many grammatical errors in a ton? How many nitpicks in a ton? How many hijacks in a ton? To beat a ton of dead horses how many horses would be required? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/8 "2005-01-04T13:41:06Z")
OK, perhaps I should have chosen “positively” instead of “literally,” but: [Dictionary.com:](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=anemic&r=67) > [@](#): > > 1. Relating to or suffering from anemia. > 2. Lacking vitality; listless and weak: an anemic attempt to hit the baseball; an anemic economic recovery. I was, of course, going for the second definition. And then in the sense of “99 pounds soaking wet.” So, perhaps I shouldn’t have even used anemic at all. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/9 "2005-01-04T16:13:50Z")
Using “literally” to mean “figuratively” is simply wrong and always has been. The use of “impact” to mean “effect” has been a cause of the group I call the illiterate pedants ever since the Unabridged Webster’s 2nd Edition came out - and that was in 1961. With over 50 years of constant use by good writers, impact has entered the category of acceptable usage. From the American Heritage Usage Note: > [@](#): > > Each generation of critics seems to select one particular usage to stand as the emblem of what they view as linguistic crassness… > > But though _impact_ may have begun life a generation ago as an inflated substitute for “affect significantly,” it has by now become so common in corporate and institutional contexts that younger speakers appear to regard it as wholly standard and straightforward usage. Within a few years, accordingly, the usage is likely to be no more objectionable than _contact_ is now, since it will no betray any particular pretentiousness on the part of those who use it. That was back in 1992. If you want to make a point about precise usage, you need a new cause. Or at least learn some language history. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/10 "2005-01-04T16:33:29Z")
The phrase “a ton of cash” is related to “a truckload of money”. A truckload means ten to a billion times more than what the speaker has.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/11 "2005-01-04T17:27:52Z")
> [@KP](#): > > I agree–and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine because it diminishes the impact those cases when expressions actually are “literally” true. > > However, “anemic” refers to a relative paucity of erythrocytes–red blood cells, not vessels. Literally. I do know that. But, as per Guadere’s Law, I was bound to make one dumb mistake in the process of pointing out one dumb mistake. **bienville** , if you think this is nitpicky and pedantic you’re on the wrong message board. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/12 "2005-01-04T17:51:52Z")
A **ton** of cash would be worth 2000 pounds (sterling). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/13 "2005-01-04T18:27:39Z")
Just to continue the highjack, **Exapno** , you should probably compare ‘affect’ in your American Heritage quote with ‘effect’ in your own second paragraph. The quote is talking about the verb; **KP** is not. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **KP** > _I agree–and it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine because it diminishes the impact_ \ _those cases when expressions actually are “literally” true._ That seems OK to me, at least as I amended it. While ‘impact’ is metaphorical here, literal statements _should_ have more impact than metaphors about anemia! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/14 "2005-01-04T18:44:54Z")
The [weights of current US. coins](http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/index.cfm?action=coin_specifications) are as follows: Cent \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2.500 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_181.436948 per lb. Nickel\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_5.000 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_90.718474 per lb Dime \_\_\__**2.268 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_199.99663580246913580246913580247 per lb. Quarter\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_5.670 g**_ 79.998654320987654320987654320988 per lb. Half Dollar \_\_\_\_\_\_11.340 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_39.999327160493827160493827160494 per lb. Dollar \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_8.100 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_55.999058024691358024691358024691 per lb. Golden Dollar \_\_\_\_\_8.100 g\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_55.999058024691358024691358024691 per lb. (Quantities based on a 453.59237 gram pound and assuming freshly minted with no loss to wear or milling) By multiplying the number of coins in a pound by 2,000, (2,240 if one chooses to ship them overseas, bulk, in long tons), and then reckoning the value of the coins thus calculated, one can determine the value of each denomination by ton. To mix quantities of coins and/or bills, please resort to your memories of Freshman Algebra. * * * **[Moderator Mode]** I realize that grammar-and-syntax is more of a hot button issue, around here, than witnessing or the Iraq war, but there will be no more snide comments on the issue in this thread. **[/Moderator Mode]** ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/15 "2005-01-04T18:58:45Z")
I remember being in about 4th grade when the cool question came up, “Would you rather have a barrel of dimes or a barrel of dollars?” The obvious answer - dollars - was supposed to be wrong. It was an early case where intuition would lead you astray and you’d learn how to be alert to those types of questions. However, I never did know how to think about that, and without having to measure coin and bill thickness, spaces unaccounted for between coins, curved spaces in barrels, etc., is there a relatively quick way to think about this version of the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/16 "2005-01-04T19:23:48Z")
A million dollars in twenty dollar bills takes approximately 2 cubic feet and weighs 110 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/17 "2005-01-04T19:45:44Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > So, it’s lacking red blood vessels? I didn’t think you could open an account at that kind of a bank. What if it’s a blood bank? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/18 "2005-01-04T19:47:16Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **[Moderator Mode]** > > I realize that grammar-and-syntax is more of a hot button issue, around here, than witnessing or the Iraq war, but there will be no more snide comments on the issue in this thread. > > **[/Moderator Mode]** Whoops. Sorry, **tomndebb**. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/19 "2005-01-04T20:06:55Z")
S’all right. I am not objecting to the hijack or the humorous byplay regarding grammar. I am simply pointing out that we have no need to get offensive, defensive, snide, or outright rude as we exchange views. [/Moderator Mode] ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-a-ton-of-cash-be-worth/282993/20 "2005-01-05T15:41:40Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I remember being in about 4th grade when the cool question came up, “Would you rather have a barrel of dimes or a barrel of dollars?” The obvious answer - dollars - was supposed to be wrong. It was an early case where intuition would lead you astray and you’d learn how to be alert to those types of questions. However, I never did know how to think about that, and without having to measure coin and bill thickness, spaces unaccounted for between coins, curved spaces in barrels, etc., is there a relatively quick way to think about this version of the OP? To get a really good answer, I suppose you’d need to deal with all those things you mention, and probably more besides. For an approximation, you could lay out some dollars (silver or paper) to some thickness, and see how many dimes cover the same area to the same thickness. (Use a hexagonal grid for the coins, to get maximum density.) Then if the money is just dumped in, instead of being neatly packed, adjust that first result down to allow for wasted space. Maybe it would be easier just to try a bucket for a cheaper simulation. (Sorry, Tom. No more grammar nits.)