ZZap MS40 Bill & Coin Counting Scale - Money Cash Currency Weighing Machine

What it is and who it’s for

The MS40 is a weight‑based cash counter that’s built for speed and repeatability in real-world cash handling. Instead of reading denominations with optical sensors, it weighs pre‑sorted coins, coin rolls, bill bundles, and even tokens or chips, and converts that weight into counts and totals. If you close drawers, run fundraisers, manage concessions, or handle tips—any scenario where money is already separated by denomination—the MS40 is a practical step up from manual counting without the maintenance and noise of friction-based sorters.

Setup and first impressions

Unboxing is straightforward: the unit is compact and sturdy, with a clear, backlit display and a logical control panel. I appreciated that I could get working within minutes. Place the hopper or your coin cup on the platter, power up, and the MS40 walks you through a simple flow. The interface uses plain-language prompts for choosing the denomination and mode (loose bills, coin cup, coin rolls, etc.), and it tars containers automatically so you’re always counting net contents, not the container.

Calibrating your own cash drawer coin cups is a standout convenience. I took the cups from my drawer, ran the calibration once, and from then on I could drop cups directly onto the scale without fiddling with settings each time. If your operation uses different trays or bags, the tare function makes quick work of them too.

Counting workflow and speed

The MS40 is purpose-built for pre-sorted counting, and that’s where it shines. My end-of-day routine looks like this:

• Bills: Select a denomination, place a small stack on the platform, and the count increments instantly. Add or remove bundles until the denomination is cleared. Repeat for the next denomination. The display shows both the per‑denomination subtotal and the running drawer total, so I never lose the context of where I am in the count.

• Coins in cups: Drop the calibrated cup, let the scale zero, and pour in the coins for that denomination. It’s fast and surprisingly consistent even with awkward pours. If you work with vendor‑specific cup sizes, running the one-time calibration is worth it.

• Coin rolls and bags: Choose the roll option for the denomination and stack the rolls right on the platter. For bulk coin bags, I use the bag tare and run in batches under the 4.4 lb capacity.

Counting a full drawer in under two minutes is realistic once you’ve run the flow a few times. There’s no mechanical feeding, no jams, and far less noise than a note counter, which makes it easy to work in a retail space without disruption.

Accuracy and consistency

Weight-based counting lives or dies by its internal reference weights and stable measurement. In practice, the MS40’s repeatability has been excellent. I stress-tested it with multiple add/remove cycles for the same denomination and saw the totals settle back to the same numbers every time. Coins are particularly consistent, as you’d expect.

A practical note for US users: like most weight-based counters, you need to account for variations such as pre‑1982 vs. post‑1982 pennies. The solution is simple—either select the appropriate coin profile if available, or separate older copper cents. That’s not a fault of the MS40 so much as a reality of any scale-based system.

For bills, the MS40 is designed for loose, single‑denomination stacks and bundled straps. It won’t “recognize” a mixed stack like an optical note counter would, but the flip side is that it’s gentler on notes and not prone to misfeeds. If your workflow already sorts bills by denomination (which most drawers do), the MS40 meets you where you are.

Reporting, memory, and export

Where the MS40 distinguishes itself from basic money scales is in its data handling. Each count session can be saved to internal memory with a reference number and a date‑time stamp. That matters when you’re reconciling multiple tills or need an audit trail for events. I got in the habit of assigning a shorthand reference (e.g., “Reg2 PM”) and saving before clearing the session. Later, I could review past counts on the device or export them to a PC for archiving and reconciliation.

Export is straightforward and useful for bookkeeping—especially if you want to attach a digital record to a deposit. You’re not stuck transcribing totals or photographing the display. For teams, this paperless trail reduces disputes and makes spot-checks less painful.

Multi-currency and updates

Out of the box, the MS40 supports USD, EUR, GBP, and CHF. Switching currencies is as simple as choosing the currency profile; the device swaps in the correct denomination list and reference weights. That’s helpful for hospitality or travel retail environments that handle more than one currency, or for organizations with overseas operations.

There’s also a path for software updates, which means new denominations and additional currencies can be added as they’re introduced or when you expand to a new region. In a category where many devices are locked to a single market, this is a nice bit of future-proofing.

Capacity and versatility

The 4.4 lb load capacity is generous for coin cups, straps, and small bags. Practically, it’s more than enough for daily drawer closes, café tip jars, and event cash boxes. For oversized coin hoards, you’ll still process in batches—but the throughput is quick enough that this isn’t onerous.

Because it’s a precision scale, the MS40 also pulls double duty with non-currency items that have uniform weights: tokens, chips, vouchers, and tickets. I tested with arcade tokens and club chips, and after creating profiles, the counts were reliable. If you’ve got a mixed inventory of counted items, this versatility earns the device a permanent spot on the counter.

Build, ergonomics, and day-to-day use

The unit is compact and easy to stash, with a footprint that doesn’t crowd a back counter. The display is bright, readable at a glance, and the button layout keeps core functions one press away. It’s quiet in operation, and the stable rubber feet keep the platform steady—important for accuracy.

I do recommend placing it on a solid surface away from HVAC vents or vibrating appliances. As with any precision scale, drafts and vibration can introduce jitter. The MS40 seems to filter minor disturbances well, but good placement is still best practice.

Limitations to understand

• It’s not a mixed-bill discriminator. You count per denomination, not a mixed stack of random notes.
• It won’t detect counterfeits. If you need authentication, you’ll want a separate detector or a hybrid solution.
• Presorting coins is required. That’s normal for scales, but if you need unsorted coin handling, look at coin sorters instead.
• The capacity tops out at 4.4 lb. Huge coin accumulations will need batching.

None of these are deal-breakers if the job is daily drawer counting, event reconciliation, or token management. They’re simply the tradeoffs of a scale-first design.

Tips to get the most from it

• Calibrate your actual drawer cups once; it pays dividends every day.
• Save each session with a reference number before clearing the totals for clean audit trails.
• Keep a small tray or scoop handy to pour coins smoothly; it speeds up the coin stages.
• For US pennies, separate older copper cents or use the matching profile.
• Place the scale on a stable, draft-free surface and avoid overloading the platform.

Value and warranty

As a 2025 model with a one‑year warranty and user‑updatable software, the MS40 feels like a long-term tool rather than a disposable gadget. You’re paying for accuracy, a better-than-basic interface, and reporting features that materially improve reconciliation. If you only ever count a single type of item, a simpler device might suffice, but if you regularly process bills and coins across denominations—and want auditable records—the MS40 earns its keep.

Recommendation

I recommend the MS40 for small to mid-sized businesses, event organizers, and anyone who needs fast, quiet, and repeatable counts of pre‑sorted cash. It consistently delivers accurate totals, cuts drawer close times to minutes, and creates a usable audit trail without extra paperwork. Its ability to handle multiple currencies, coin rolls, and non-currency items like tokens makes it more versatile than basic money scales. Just be aware that it’s a weight-based counter—not a mixed-bill discriminator or counterfeit detector—and plan your workflow accordingly. If that matches your needs, it’s an easy tool to rely on every day.