Possible to count only hand hits

Question

hey guys,
This exercise has been in my back pocket for a month. Worked with one of our coders on this and she's empty of ideas. I've been trying to create a teach game to make correct change. So what I have is change, a hand and a table. I want a live tally of what is on the hand. Now the friend of mine took this code way above my skill level so I'm hoping someone has a new direction for this. The issue we have with the current code is that if you take the change from the dish and drop it right in the hand, the tally will be correct. Now if I drop a coin on the hitbox (off the hand) first, or repeatedly do this, I can run a negative tally. So I'd like the tally only to show what is touching the hand (as a new direction) instead of counting every time the hand or table is hit. So a snapshot to check what is touching the hand and use that as a counter. really stumped guys, here's the code my buddy came up with, any hints in the right direction?
import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.transitions.easing.*;
import fl.transitions.TweenEvent;
import com.greensock.*;
import com.greensock.easing.*;
import flash.media.Sound;
import flash.display.StageScaleMode;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.StageDisplayState;
stop();
penny1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny6.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny7.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny8.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
nickel1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
nickel2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
nickel3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
nickel4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
nickel5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
dime1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
dime2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
dime3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
dime4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
dime5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
quarter1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
quarter2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
quarter3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
quarter4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
loonie1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
loonie2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
loonie3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
loonie4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
toonie1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
toonie2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
toonie3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
toonie4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
five.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
five1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
five2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, grabMe);
penny1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny6.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny7.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
penny8.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
nickel1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
nickel2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
nickel3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
nickel4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
nickel5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
dime1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
dime2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
dime3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
dime4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
dime5.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
quarter1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
quarter2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
quarter3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
quarter4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
loonie1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
loonie2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
loonie3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
loonie4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
toonie1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
toonie2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
toonie3.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
toonie4.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
five.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
five1.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
five2.addEventListener (MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMe);
var masterTotal;
var pickUpSound:Sound = new pickUp();
var coinOnHandSound:Sound = new coinOnHand();
var coinPickUpSound:Sound = new coinPickUp();
var coinDropSound:Sound = new coinDrop();
var dropPaperSound:Sound = new dropPaper();
hand.visible = false;
hitbox.mouseEnabled = false;
sidebucket.mouseEnabled = false;
var hitHand;
var handTotal;
handTotal = 0.00;
handTotalTxt.text = "Change Tally: $" + handTotal.toFixed(2);
handTotalTxt.selectable = false;
hand.mouseEnabled = false;
TweenMax.to (penny1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny5, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny6, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny7, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (penny8, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (dime1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (dime2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (dime3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (dime4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (dime5, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (nickel1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (nickel2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (nickel3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (nickel4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (nickel5, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (quarter1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (quarter2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (quarter3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (quarter4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (loonie1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (loonie2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (loonie3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (loonie4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (toonie1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (toonie2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (toonie3, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (toonie4, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (five, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (five1, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
TweenMax.to (five2, 0.1, {scaleX:0.1, scaleY:0.1});
/*var my_shadow:DropShadowFilter = new DropShadowFilter();
my_shadow.color = 0x000000;
my_shadow.blurY = 3;
my_shadow.blurX = 3;
my_shadow.angle = 90;
my_shadow.alpha = .2;
my_shadow.quality = 15;
my_shadow.distance = 100;*/
function grabMe (e:MouseEvent):void
          e.target.startDrag();
          var me;
          me = e.target;
          coinPickUpSound.play ();
          var scaley:Tween = new Tween(me, "scaleY", Regular.easeIn, 0.1, 0.4, 0.2, true);
          var scalex:Tween = new Tween(me, "scaleX", Regular.easeIn, 0.1, 0.4, 0.2, true);
function dropMe (e:MouseEvent):void
          stopDrag();
          var myValue:Number;
          five1.myValue = 5.00;
          five2.myValue = 5.00;
          five.myValue = 5.00;
          penny1.myValue = .01;
          penny2.myValue = .01;
          penny3.myValue = .01;
          penny4.myValue = .01;
          penny5.myValue = .01;
          penny6.myValue = .01;
          penny7.myValue = .01;
          penny8.myValue = .01;
          dime1.myValue = .10;
          dime2.myValue = .10;
          dime3.myValue = .10;
          dime4.myValue = .10;
          dime5.myValue = .10;
          nickel1.myValue = .05;
          nickel2.myValue = .05;
          nickel3.myValue = .05;
          nickel4.myValue = .05;
          nickel5.myValue = .05;
          quarter2.myValue = .25;
          quarter3.myValue = .25;
          quarter4.myValue = .25;
          quarter1.myValue = .25;
          toonie2.myValue = 2.00;
          toonie3.myValue = 2.00;
          toonie4.myValue = 2.00;
          toonie1.myValue = 2.00;
          loonie2.myValue = 1.00;
          loonie3.myValue = 1.00;
          loonie4.myValue = 1.00;
          loonie1.myValue = 1.00;
          var me;
          me = e.target;
          var scaleyOut:Tween = new Tween(me, "scaleY", Regular.easeIn, 0.4, 0.1, 0.05, true);
          var scalexOut:Tween = new Tween(me, "scaleX", Regular.easeIn, 0.4, 0.1, 0.05, true);
          trace(e.target.myValue);
          if (hand.hitTestObject(me) && me.hitHand != true)
                              coinOnHandSound.play();
                              handTotal = handTotal + me.myValue;
                              trace(handTotal.toFixed(2));
                              handTotalTxt.text = "Change Tally: $" + handTotal.toFixed(2);
                              trace("Hit Hand");
                              me.hitHand = true;
          else if (hitbox.hitTestObject(me) && me.hitTray != true)
                              coinDropSound.play();
                              handTotal = handTotal - me.myValue;
                              trace(handTotal);
                              handTotalTxt.text = "Change Tally: $" + handTotal.toFixed(2);
                              trace("Hit Counter");
                              me.hitTray = true;
          else
                              hitHand = 3;
                              trace("No Hit");
                              trace(handTotal);

Answer 1

Without seeing your movie it's difficult to gues how it works, but from the code I'm guessing that the mouseDown event "picks up" and then drags a money object. Then the mouseUp event "drops" the money object. This dropped object can only "fall" onto either the hand or the tray. You want the user to know how much money is in the hand at any time.
I'm thinking that you need an overall total of the value of the money objects that are picked up from the area that is not the hand or the tray. Then you need a total for the value of the money objects that hit the hand object. You will deduct the value of any money object "picked up" from the hand object from the hand total. If that money object is not dropped back to the hand, then it will not be added back to the hand's total value. The difference between the value of the money objects picked up from the not hand and not tray area and the value of the money objects in the hand should be the value of the money objects in the tray.
Am I close?