Quick answer: A neighbourhood pharmacy that counts sorted riyals needs a sheet counter with UV and magnetic detection, such as the Fin-890. A 24-hour or busy pharmacy that closes mixed tills at every shift change needs a value counter that totals the drawer in one pass, such as the CX-7500 or Fin-7900. Pharmacy chains counting several branches at head office should choose the Kisan K2, and the Fin-CC93 clears the halala coins that small sales leave behind. Add a deposit safe for night shifts.
Pharmacy cash is different from shop cash. Most sales are small, so tills fill with 5- and 10-riyal notes and coins. The pharmacist often doubles as cashier, so counting time comes straight out of patient time. And many pharmacies run around the clock, with the till changing hands two or three times a day.
What makes pharmacy cash different
- Many small notes and coins: low-value sales and insurance co-payments mean high note counts for modest totals.
- Pharmacists are busy: every minute spent counting is a minute away from patients.
- 24-hour shifts: the till is handed over at each shift change, often late at night.
- Several counters: large, mall and hospital pharmacies run more than one till.
- Chains: takings from many branches are counted at a head office or regional office.
Which machine fits your pharmacy?
Neighbourhood pharmacy, sorted cash: Fin-890
The Fin-890 is Finloyd’s best-selling counter for small businesses. It checks UV and magnetic features on every note, alarms and stops at a suspect note, and has add and batch modes for bundles of 100. It suits a single-till pharmacy where the cashier sorts notes before counting.
24-hour or busy pharmacy with mixed tills: CX-7500 or Fin-7900
At a shift change, a value counter totals the whole mixed drawer in one pass, so the handover takes a minute. The CX-7500 counts mixed riyals, dollars and euros at 1,200 notes per minute with dual image sensors and UV, magnetic, metal-thread and infrared checks. The Fin-7900 (made in Korea) adds a 500-note hopper and serial number reading, useful when two pharmacists disagree about a handover.
Pharmacy chain head office: Kisan K2
The Kisan K2 is a 1+1 machine: suspect or foreign notes drop into a reject pocket while the rest keep counting, so a head office can run every branch bag without stopping. It holds 600 notes, reads serial numbers, and carries a 2-year warranty. One model across all branches means one training and one set of spare parts.
Halala and riyal coins: Fin-CC93
The Fin-CC93 counts and sorts up to 600 coins per minute, handles up to 14 denominations including halalas, and rejects foreign and fake coins.
| Model | Type | Detection | Hopper (notes) | Max speed (notes/min) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fin-890 | Sheet | UV, MG | – | – | Neighbourhood pharmacy, sorted cash |
| CX-7500 | Value | Dual CIS, UV, MG, MT, IR | 300 | 1,200 | 24-hour and busy pharmacies |
| Fin-7900 | Value, serial reading | Dual CIS, UV, MG, IR, US | 500 | 1,000 (value) | Large pharmacies, disputed handovers |
| Kisan K2 | 1+1 value, reject pocket | CIS, UV, MG, IR, US | 600 | 1,000 (value) | Chain head offices |
| Fin-CC93 | Coin counter | Rejects foreign and fake coins | – | 600 coins | Halala change |
Every counter above checks machine-readable versions of the security features the Saudi Central Bank builds into riyal notes. To learn what those features are, see the security features of Saudi banknotes from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Detection technologies, explained correctly
| Code | Name | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| UV | Ultraviolet | How the paper and hidden features glow under UV light; most fakes glow wrongly |
| MG | Magnetic | Magnetic ink printed in set areas of genuine notes |
| MT | Metal thread | The metallic security thread inside the note |
| IR | Infrared | Ink patterns that appear differently under infrared light |
| CIS | Contact image sensor | An optical scan of the note to recognise its denomination and check its image; “dual CIS” scans both sides |
| US | Ultrasonic | Note thickness, to catch taped or stuck-together notes |
A machine alarm means “check this note”, not “this note is fake”. Always check rejected notes by hand.
A 6-step shift cash-up for 24-hour pharmacies
- Print the till report from the pharmacy system for the outgoing shift.
- Count the drawer in one pass on the value counter, with both pharmacists present.
- Check any rejected note by hand against SAMA’s published security features, and record it with the pharmacist’s name.
- Count the coins on the coin counter.
- Compare the total with the till report, and both sign the count sheet, including any difference.
- Drop the takings into the deposit safe and leave only the agreed float for the next shift.
Deposit safes for night shifts
A deposit (drop) safe has a slot that lets the pharmacist drop notes during the shift without being able to open it, so little cash sits in the till overnight. Finloyd supplies Valberg deposit safes such as the ASD-19EL and ASD-32 EL, and the time-delay DSC 67 KK for 24-hour pharmacies. Bolt the safe in the back office, away from the counter.
Pharmacy chains: one count, every branch
Count each branch bag separately on the K2 at head office and keep the result with the branch’s daily report. Using the same counter model at every branch and at head office means managers can compare counts directly and train new staff once.
Supply and service in Saudi Arabia
Finloyd has supplied money counting machines and safes in Saudi Arabia since 2008 and is the authorized distributor of Kisan counters in the Kingdom. Our branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar deliver, install, train staff and provide door-to-door maintenance. Comparing every type of counter? See our money counting machine comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best money counting machine for a pharmacy?
For a neighbourhood pharmacy with sorted cash, the Fin-890. For 24-hour and busy pharmacies with mixed tills, a value counter such as the CX-7500 or Fin-7900. For pharmacy chain head offices, the Kisan K2.
Do pharmacies need a value counter?
Yes if the till is handed over between shifts or several tills are closed together. A value counter totals a mixed drawer in one pass, so the handover is fast and easy to agree.
How should a 24-hour pharmacy hand over the till?
Print the till report, count the drawer on the value counter with both pharmacists present, check any rejected note, count coins, compare and sign, then drop the takings into a deposit safe.
What do UV, MG, IR and CIS mean on a money counter?
UV is ultraviolet, MG magnetic ink, IR infrared, and CIS a contact image sensor that optically scans the note. MT checks the metal thread and US (ultrasonic) catches taped notes.
Is there a machine for counting halala coins?
Yes. The Fin-CC93 counts up to 600 coins per minute, handles up to 14 denominations including halalas, and rejects foreign and fake coins.
Does a pharmacy need a deposit safe?
For 24-hour pharmacies, yes. A deposit safe lets staff drop cash during the shift without opening the safe, so little cash is in the till at night.
Should a pharmacy chain use the same counter at every branch?
Usually yes. One model at every branch and head office means one training, one set of spare parts and counts that can be compared directly. The Kisan K2 is a common choice.
Where can I buy a money counting machine for a pharmacy in Saudi Arabia?
Finloyd supplies and services money counting machines and deposit safes from Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. Call Jeddah +966 50 844 0075, Riyadh +966 50 003 2928 or Al Khobar +966 55 721 2191.
Running one pharmacy or a chain? Tell us how many tills, shifts and branches you have, and we will recommend the counter and safe for each. See all money counting machines.
