Short Answer 
The riddle presents a scenario where two coins total 30 cents, specifying that one isn’t a nickel, which cleverly misleads the solver. The solution involves a quarter (25 cents) and a nickel (5 cents), satisfying the conditions while playing with assumptions about the coins involved.
Understand the Riddle
The riddle states that two coins add up to 30 cents, with the stipulation that one of them isn’t a nickel. This wording is designed to mislead the reader into thinking that both coins cannot be nickels. Take care to analyze how the phrasing can allow for one coin to be a nickel while the other is not.
Identify the Coins
In this riddle, the two coins we are looking for must total 30 cents. By breaking down common coin values, we can determine the possible combinations. Consider the following options that can form 30 cents:
- Two dimes (20 cents total)
- Three dimes (30 cents total)
- A quarter (25 cents) and a nickel (5 cents)
Reveal the Solution
Now that we understand the stipulation and have examined the coin combinations, we can reveal the answer. The two coins that successfully add up to 30 cents are a quarter (25 cents) and a nickel (5 cents). This confirms that while one coin is indeed a nickel, the other coin, which is a quarter, is not. This clever design of the riddle plays with language to challenge our usual assumptions about coin values.