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How to Sell Foreign Currency The Fast and Easy Way

Posted by: Ian3 Jan 2026

We’ve all got one. That jar, box, or forgotten envelope stuffed with foreign coins and notes from holidays gone by. It might seem like clutter, but it holds more value than you think.

The best way to sell foreign currency isn't a trip to the bank. It's using a specialist online exchange service that offers a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to convert everything—even old or obsolete money—into cash, without you having to sort a single coin. Our service is 100% guaranteed and trusted by major UK brands, including charities, airports, supermarkets, and police forces.

Your Guide to Cashing In on Leftover Currency

A sketch of a glass jar filled with assorted international banknotes and coins, labeled 'Leftover currency'.

Whether it’s a handful of euros from a city break, some US dollars from a work trip, or even a collection of old pre-decimal coins inherited from a relative, that currency often ends up tucked away in a drawer for years.

Many people just assume exchanging it is too much trouble, especially when dealing with a jumble of mixed coins and old-looking banknotes. But turning that forgotten collection into real, spendable cash can be surprisingly straightforward.

This guide is here to walk you through a simple, guaranteed process to exchange foreign coins and notes. We’ll demystify the steps and provide helpful advice and real-world insights on how to get proper value from what just looks like clutter. Forget tedious bank queues or sorting through piles of unfamiliar change; there’s a much better way.

A Trusted and Guaranteed Process

Trust is everything when you decide to sell your currency. Our service is relied upon by some of the UK’s most recognised organisations, including major charities, national supermarkets, airports, and even police forces. They trust us to handle their currency exchange needs efficiently and transparently, and you can expect that exact same high standard of service.

We also provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This means the entire process is completely risk-free for you. You’ll see a clear valuation before you commit to anything, and if you’re not totally happy for any reason, we’ll return your currency to you at no cost. It’s that fast, easy, and hassle-free.

What Can You Exchange?

One of the biggest hurdles people face is just figuring out what’s exchangeable. The good news is, a specialist service accepts a huge range of currencies—far more than any high-street bureau would even look at.

This includes:

  • Leftover holiday money: Any current coins and banknotes from your travels.
  • Old and obsolete currency: Pre-euro coins and notes like Deutsche Marks, French Francs, or Spanish Pesetas.
  • Discontinued banknotes: Currency that is no longer in circulation but still holds exchangeable value.
  • Unsorted collections: Big mixed bags of coins and notes from all over the world.

The key thing to remember is that you don’t need to be a currency expert. Our system is built to handle all the complexity for you, ensuring you get the best possible return for your collection, totally hassle-free. Our guide on how to exchange foreign currency provides more detail on this simple process.

What to Do with Your Unsorted Coins and Notes

Let's be honest, most of us have a stash of leftover foreign currency somewhere. It might be a bag of mixed euros, old Spanish pesetas, and some odd-looking coins from a long-forgotten trip. The thought of sorting through it all just feels like too much work, so it sits there, gathering dust.

This is a familiar story for millions of us in the UK. After a holiday to Spain or France, it's easy to tuck those leftover euros in a drawer and forget about them. In fact, it's estimated that British travellers bring back around £300 million in unused foreign currency every single year. That's a staggering amount of cash just lying around our homes. You can see more on these travel money trends from the Office for National Statistics.

This is exactly why we've designed a modern way to sell foreign currency that cuts out all the faff. Our unique weight-based system is built to make the entire process completely straightforward.

No Sorting Needed – Just Quick, Easy Cash

The old way of exchanging foreign money meant painstakingly separating every coin and note, figuring out what was still in circulation, and then trailing around different exchange bureaus. We've gotten rid of all that. You don’t need to be a currency expert or spend your weekend sorting through a pile of change.

Our process is built on simplicity:

  • Just gather it all up: Tip all your leftover foreign currency into one bag or box. It doesn’t matter how mixed up it is—there’s absolutely no need to sort coins.
  • Use our online wizard: Our simple tool gives you an accurate, guaranteed quote based on the total weight and type of currency you have.
  • Send it in one package: Pop your entire unsorted collection into a single, secure parcel and send it to us.

This is perfect for all sorts of situations. Maybe you’re a charity trying to convert foreign coins and banknotes from a collection bucket, or perhaps you're a family clearing out a relative’s old coin collection.

The whole idea is simple: we do the hard work for you. By taking the sorting out of the equation, we make it fast and easy to turn that forgotten collection into real money.

Trusted by Major UK Brands

This easy system isn't just for individuals. It's the very same process used by major UK brands, including national charities, airports, supermarkets, and even police forces.

They count on our efficiency and transparency to handle large, mixed-currency collections, which speaks volumes about the credibility of our service. When you choose to exchange foreign coins and notes with us, you’re using a system proven to work for organisations that need total reliability. We offer a 100% guaranteed service, so you can be sure you'll get the value you were quoted, quickly and with no fuss.

How to Prepare and Send Your Currency Securely

Once you’ve got your instant online quote, the next step is getting your currency to us safely. I can’t stress this enough: preparing your package correctly is the key to a fast, easy, and hassle-free exchange. Get this part right, and you can sell foreign currency with total confidence, knowing everything will arrive securely and be processed without a hitch.

Your first job is to pick the right packaging. If you only have a small collection of coins and notes, a sturdy, padded jiffy bag is a great choice. It gives a good bit of protection against knocks and tears while it’s in transit.

Got a larger or heavier stash? You’ll need something a bit more robust. The last thing you want is the packaging splitting open because of the weight of the coins. For these bigger amounts, have a look at the various cardboard boxes designed specifically for secure shipping to find one that fits the bill.

Sealing and Securing Your Package

After choosing your packaging, it’s time to seal it up tight. Use strong packing tape to secure every opening and give the seams an extra layer, especially if you're using a box. The goal is to make the package as tamper-proof as possible so nothing can fall out.

Now, for the really important part. Inside the package, you need to include a few key details to link the currency directly to your order. This is absolutely vital for a smooth process.

  • Your Full Name: This lets us know who you are straight away.
  • Your Email Address: We'll use this to send you updates and confirm we've received your package.
  • Your Unique Reference Number: This is the most critical piece of information. It connects your package directly to the online quote you received.

Just jot this information down clearly on a slip of paper and pop it inside with your currency. For a more detailed walkthrough, have a read of our complete guide on safely sending cash in the post.

This simple infographic shows just how straightforward the flow is from gathering your currency to cashing out.

A three-step process flow for unlocking value: Unsorted Currency, Get Quote, and Cash Out.

As you can see, the system is designed for simplicity—no need for you to sort anything. Just get a quick quote and then cash out.

Our 100% Happiness Guarantee

We get it. Sending money through the post requires a lot of trust. That’s why we stand by our service with a 100% happiness guarantee. It’s this promise that has earned us the trust of major brands like charities, airports, and supermarkets.

If, for any reason at all, you aren't completely happy with the final valuation we provide after we've received and checked your currency, we will return your entire collection to you, free of charge. There are absolutely no hidden fees or risks involved.

This guarantee means you are always in control. It removes any worry from the process, allowing you to exchange foreign coins and notes with the assurance that you’re working with a partner you can count on. Your satisfaction is our top priority, from start to finish.

For an individual, a pocketful of leftover holiday money is usually just a minor annoyance. But for organisations like charities, retailers, and airlines, that same foreign currency represents a significant—and often completely untapped—resource. What looks like an administrative headache can be transformed into a valuable new stream of income, all without having to sort a single coin.

We’ve created a simple solution for organisations to sell foreign currency in bulk. It’s why we’re trusted by major UK brands, from national charities and police forces to airports and supermarkets. They count on our 100% guaranteed service to handle large, mixed collections of currency efficiently and with total transparency.

Unlocking Overlooked Revenue for Charities

Charities are masters of fundraising, but dealing with physical donations of leftover foreign currency can be a real logistical nightmare. Collection buckets and fundraising drives often bring in a chaotic mix of international coins and old banknotes that are nearly impossible to process through a high-street bank.

Our service cuts right through that complexity. Imagine a national charity flooded with thousands of donation envelopes after a big campaign. Instead of tying up precious volunteer hours sorting through old pesetas, dollars, and euros, they can just send the entire unsorted collection straight to us. We take care of everything, allowing them to convert foreign coins and banknotes directly into funds for their vital work.

This is also a fantastic way to engage supporters. By encouraging people to donate foreign coins to charity, organisations create a simple and effective new fundraising channel. It’s a brilliant way to turn something many people consider worthless into a meaningful contribution.

A Practical Solution for Businesses

It’s not just charities that find themselves with piles of foreign cash. For many UK businesses, especially in retail and tourism, receiving foreign currency is a daily reality, whether through accidental payments or as tips from international visitors.

A recent report showed that high-street shops and tourist spots handled a staggering £250 million in mistaken foreign payments. On top of that, attractions like the British Museum or Alton Towers amassed £40 million in leftover coins from global tourists, often including obsolete notes from far-flung countries. You can dig into more data about global currency trends on Wise.com.

Think about a major airline that collects in-flight donations for its charity partner. At the end of the month, they’re left with bags filled with currency from dozens of different countries. Our service gives them a simple, bulk-processing solution to convert that jumbled collection into a substantial sterling donation, fast.

In the same way, a large supermarket could run a 'foreign coin amnesty' at its checkouts, collecting leftover holiday money for a chosen cause. We make it easy to process these large volumes, turning a great community initiative into a real financial result. By offering a straightforward way to exchange foreign coins and notes, businesses can unlock hidden value, boost their corporate social responsibility efforts, and support the causes they care about.

Ready to see how our service can benefit your organisation? Visit our homepage to learn more and get started with our simple, secure, and guaranteed process.

Turn Your Leftover Coins Into Charitable Donations

A sketched image showing money in a jar moving towards a donation box with a heart.

That dusty bag of old holiday money tucked away in a drawer has more power than you might think. It’s not just a collection of memories—it's a way to make a real difference. Many of our customers are looking for a way to give back, and we’ve made it incredibly simple to sell foreign currency and send the proceeds directly to a fantastic cause.

It's a fast, easy, and completely hassle-free way to turn forgotten travel money into a meaningful contribution. That small handful of US dollars or a few leftover Swiss franc notes can quickly become funds for vital supplies—think books for a child’s education or a warm meal for someone who needs it. You're transforming what feels like clutter into genuine, impactful support.

This simple act of generosity has a massive collective effect. You might be surprised to learn that the UK's charity sector has quietly gathered a huge amount of foreign currency from public donations. It's estimated that charities are sitting on around £150 million in unexchanged foreign notes and coins. A big chunk of this is made up of old, pre-euro currencies and obsolete bills—exactly the kind of money we specialise in.

A New Fundraising Channel for Charities

For charities, our service opens up a powerful new avenue for fundraising. Encouraging your supporters to donate foreign coins to charity creates a simple and consistent income stream that doesn't demand hours of work from your team.

So many people have small amounts of leftover foreign currency and simply don't know what to do with it. By giving them an easy way to contribute, you unlock a resource that would otherwise just sit forgotten in a jar.

Here’s how it works for charities:

  • No sorting needed: Supporters can just drop off all their mixed-up foreign coins and notes. Your volunteers won't have to spend precious time sorting through dozens of different currencies.
  • Simple bulk processing: You can send us large, unsorted collections from your fundraising drives, collection buckets, or mail-in campaigns.
  • Fast and guaranteed payments: We process everything quickly and provide a 100% guaranteed payment, turning chaotic collections into funds you can put to work immediately.

This approach gets rid of the biggest headache for both donors and charities—the complexity. By making the process to exchange foreign coins and notes totally hassle-free, you tap into a valuable and often overlooked source of donations.

How You Can Donate Your Currency

If you're an individual who wants to contribute, the process is just as simple. When you go through our online exchange process, you'll see an option to direct your payment to one of our partnered UK charities. It’s a seamless way to support a cause close to your heart without any extra steps.

This is perfect for anyone looking to declutter with a purpose. Instead of just trying to convert foreign coins and banknotes for yourself, you can give them a second life supporting the incredible work of trusted organisations. We are proud to work with major brands, including well-known charities, who rely on our trusted and transparent service.

Ready to make a difference with your old travel money? Find out more about how you can easily donate foreign currency to our partner charities and turn your leftover change into meaningful change.

Got a Few Questions? We’ve Got Answers

It’s completely normal to have a few questions before you pop your old currency in the post. Even with a process as simple as ours, you want to know you’re in safe hands. We’re all about being upfront and clear, so here are the answers to some of the most common queries we get.

People often ask us how we work out our exchange rates. It’s a great question. Our rates are linked to the live wholesale currency markets, but we also adjust them based on what you’re sending. This means we look at whether the coins and notes are still in circulation, obsolete, or slightly damaged.

This is exactly why we can offer you a fair price for a much bigger range of currency than your local bank. We’re talking about all that old pre-euro money and forgotten holiday coins that other places simply won't touch. The quote you get from our online wizard is always what you’ll get – no nasty surprises or hidden fees.

Your Payment and Security Questions Answered

"How quickly will I get my money?" is another big one. As soon as your package lands with us, our team gets straight to work checking everything. We guarantee your payment will be processed and on its way to you within five working days of verification. You can choose to get paid by bank transfer or PayPal – whatever works best for you.

Of course, security is paramount. Sending money through the mail is surprisingly safe, as long as you do it right. We always suggest using a tracked and insured service like Royal Mail Special Delivery. It gives you that extra peace of mind, letting you watch your package’s journey all the way to our front door.

We’re the trusted partner for major UK brands, including national charities, airports, and even police forces. They rely on us for secure and professional handling of their currency collections, a trust we’ve earned through years of reliability and our 100% happiness guarantee.

Finally, what about the bits and bobs we can’t exchange? If your collection has any counterfeit notes or coins that are too damaged to have any value, we make sure they’re responsibly recycled. From start to finish, the entire process is handled professionally. Our whole mission is to make it easy to exchange foreign coins and notes, cutting through the usual red tape so you can unlock the value in your collection with zero fuss.


Ready to turn that forgotten currency into cash? At We Buy All Currency, our fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed service makes it simple. Visit our homepage to get your instant quote today!

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