Why don't they focus on the only relevant part. He took TWO SMALL CHESTS. All his other meaningless calculations have to be wrong. He is saying two chests of 5'x5'x5'. That is like two U-Hauls... not chests.

Why not figure out how much loot you can maximally cram into a chest whatever you want to call that volume.

Only 20 feet wide and 7 feet high? Funny, I always pictured it like Singe's cavern in Dragon's Lair. I guess Dirk was richer than Bilbo.

More like $7 million or so (300 lbs gold and 300 lbs silver). Anything more then 300lbs each and the chests would break, plus he wouldn't be able to haul them.

Let's not forget that 2 handled cup that he took home, and got appraised at the Hobbiton Arts Center for 50 million dollars. A priceless elven heirloom that grants everlasting elven life to all those who drink from it.

give it up.