– Q. A Gabbai, eager to start Mincha, wants to count the assembled to see if there is a Minyan, why does he not ask each present to put a coin or similar in a plate, for Tzedaka before davening.
Is the above not better than counting as often is done while saying the pasuk of “Hoshi’o Es Amecha etc.”?

A. Your suggestion of counting people by using coins may just be impractical specially in our days, when few people actually carry coins in their pockets.
Tzedaka is also given often by using a card.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a