Sending Cash in Post A Complete Guide to Doing It Safely

Posted by: Ian • 25 Dec 2025

Popping cash in the post might seem like a quick fix, especially for a birthday card or to get rid of leftover holiday money. But when you're talking about anything more than a few quid, it's a risky game. Standard mail just doesn't offer any real protection if that envelope goes missing or gets damaged.

Thankfully, there’s a modern, secure way to handle currency exchange without the worry: a specialised, guaranteed service that is fast, easy, and hassle-free.

Why Sending Cash by Post Feels Outdated

We’ve all done it. Tucked a tenner into a card for a grandchild or swept a jar of foreign coins into an envelope after a trip. While the intention is good, relying on a standard stamp is a gamble. Think about it: that envelope travels through countless sorting machines and is handled by many different people. Each step is a chance for it to get lost, damaged, or even stolen, and you’ll have no way to get it back.

This isn't a new problem. The postal system has known about these risks for ages. In fact, they introduced postal orders way back in 1881 to try and cut down on theft and loss. Fast forward to today, and with cash making up just 14% of all payments in the UK in 2022, the world has clearly moved on to safer, more traceable methods. You can read more about the long history of sending money securely in this great article from the Postal Museum.

The Modern Solution for Leftover Currency

So, what should you do with that pile of foreign cash from your last holiday? Instead of chancing it in the post, there’s a much better way to exchange foreign coins and notes.

Our service is designed to be fast, easy, and completely hassle-free. It offers a 100% guaranteed method to exchange your foreign coins and notes. You don’t even need to sort through it all. It’s this simple, reliable approach that has made us a trusted partner for major UK brands, including:

National charities
Major supermarkets
Busy airports
Even police forces

This handy comparison shows just how different the old, risky method is from a secure, specialist service.

As you can see, a dedicated service gives you the peace of mind that standard post simply can't. You can convert your foreign coins and banknotes with total confidence, knowing your money is safe from start to finish.

Standard Post vs Specialist Service: A Quick Comparison

When you're deciding how to handle leftover foreign currency, it helps to see the options side-by-side. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect from standard untracked post versus a dedicated service like ours.

Feature	Standard Post (Untracked)	Specialist Service (e.g., We Buy All Currency)
Security	Very low; risk of loss or theft.	High; insured and guaranteed delivery.
Tracking	None.	Fully tracked from collection to delivery.
Guarantee	No guarantee of delivery.	100% guaranteed exchange.
Insurance	None.	Fully insured against loss or damage.
Accepted Currency	N/A (Carrier, not exchange)	Foreign banknotes and coins, including obsolete currency.
Convenience	Requires packaging and a trip to the post office.	Fast, easy, and hassle-free online process. No need to sort coins.
Peace of Mind	Low; constant worry until it arrives.	High; complete confidence in the process.

The choice is pretty clear. While posting cash might feel familiar, the risks involved are significant. A specialist service removes all the guesswork and worry, ensuring your money is handled securely and professionally every step of the way.

What Royal Mail Says About Posting Money

Before you pop that envelope in the postbox, it’s worth knowing the official rules. A lot of people think a standard stamp will do the job, but Royal Mail has very specific guidelines for sending cash to manage the risk of it going missing. Ignoring them can be a surprisingly costly mistake.

First things first: you should never send cash using standard 1st or 2nd Class post. It might be tempting for a birthday card, but these services have no tracking and, most importantly, no compensation if the money vanishes. Just imagine that £50 note you sent never arrives. Without using the right service, it’s just gone, and any claim you try to make will be turned down flat.

The Only Service With Protection

Royal Mail is crystal clear about this. The only service in the UK that provides any compensation for lost cash is Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm. This isn't just a friendly suggestion; it's the only official way to send money with any sort of protection.

But even with this service, you need to be aware of the limits:

Cash Limit: You’re only covered for up to £500 in cash. If you send more, even with Special Delivery, you’re taking a big financial gamble on anything over that amount.
Valuables Limit: For other valuables like cheques or postal orders, the compensation can go as high as £2,500, depending on the level of cover you pay for.
Cost: It’s obviously a bit pricier than a standard stamp, but that extra cost pays for proper tracking and a signature on delivery, giving you that much-needed security.

This structure is there for a reason. And while our focus here is on Royal Mail, it's always smart to understand the different official services offered by postal carriers, which can even include things like USPS notary services in other countries.

Real-World Risks and Why They Matter

Let’s look at a classic example. A small shop owner decides to post the week's takings of £700 to their bank using Special Delivery, thinking it's fully protected. Unfortunately, the parcel gets lost along the way. Because the amount was over the £500 cash limit, their compensation is capped at £500, leaving them with a £200 loss. It’s a common and painful lesson for people who don't check the fine print.

The rules aren't just suggestions; they are strict terms of service. Royal Mail's official guidance is designed to protect both you and them, but only if you follow it precisely. Using the wrong service or exceeding the limits invalidates your claim.

It’s the same story with leftover foreign currency. A standard letter filled with euros or dollars has zero protection and is just as likely to get lost or stolen. Even if you use Special Delivery, trying to value a mix of foreign coins and notes for a compensation claim is a nightmare and often impossible.

This is exactly why a dedicated currency exchange service offering a 100% guarantee is the most sensible choice. Instead of trying to navigate complicated postal rules, you can simply exchange your foreign coins and notes without any of the risk. It’s a fast, easy, and completely hassle-free solution—trusted by major charities, police forces, and supermarkets who know how important secure currency handling really is.

The Smart Way to Exchange Your Foreign Currency

Instead of wrestling with postal regulations and the risks that come with sending cash in the post, what if there was a much simpler way? Imagine being able to securely convert that jar of leftover holiday money into cash you can actually spend. We've turned that idea into a fast, easy, and completely hassle-free reality, designed specifically to exchange foreign coins and notes without the stress.

Our entire process is built on trust and simplicity. We provide a 100% guaranteed service that turns your forgotten currency into real value. It’s a system relied on by major UK organisations who simply can't afford to take risks—we're talking national charities, busy airports, major supermarkets, and even police forces. They trust us because our method is proven to be both secure and efficient.

From Unsorted Coins to Cash in Your Account

One of the biggest headaches with leftover foreign currency is that mixed bag of coins. Banks and exchange bureaus often won't even look at them, leaving you with what feels like worthless shrapnel.

This is where our service really shines. You have absolutely no need to sort your coins. Our unique approach means you can send everything in one go. Whether it's a handful of euros, a pocketful of dollars, or a collection of old, obsolete currency, our experts handle the entire valuation process for you.

Fast Quote: Get an instant estimate for your unsorted coins using our simple online tool.
Secure Postage: Send your currency to us using a tracked service for complete peace of mind.
Guaranteed Payment: As soon as we receive it, we process your currency and get your payment sorted promptly.

This straightforward system gets rid of all the usual roadblocks you hit when trying to convert foreign coins and banknotes.

Why a Specialist Service Is the Safest Bet

Using a dedicated service isn’t just about making life easier; it's about security. For organisations like airports and charities that regularly handle public donations of foreign currency, the risks of untracked post are just too high. A specialist service removes that postal risk entirely and guarantees payment within a set timeframe, turning otherwise hard-to-handle change into usable funds.

Our happiness guarantee is central to the trust we build. If you're not completely satisfied with the valuation we provide for your currency, we will return it to you free of charge. No questions asked.

This commitment ensures you’re always in control and confident in the process from start to finish. You can find out more about the specifics in our detailed guide on how to exchange foreign currency.

By choosing a trusted, specialist service, you unlock the hidden value in your leftover currency and get a secure, professional, and entirely risk-free solution. Forget the worries of posting cash and discover a better way to exchange your foreign coins and notes today.

How to Package and Send Currency Securely

Getting your parcel ready is the first real step towards a smooth, hassle-free currency exchange. When you package everything up properly, you’re not just protecting your leftover foreign currency—you’re making sure it arrives safe and sound. It sets a professional, secure tone for the whole process.

First things first, let's talk materials. You'll want to grab a strong, padded Jiffy-style bag or even a small, sturdy box. Whatever you do, don't just use a standard paper envelope. They're simply not up to the job of holding the weight of coins and can easily rip open in transit. The last thing you want is your money getting lost along the way.

Securing Your Coins and Notes

Once you've sorted the outer packaging, the next job is to secure what's inside. Loose coins are a dead giveaway—they rattle around, make a racket, and can even punch a hole through the envelope. The best way to stop this is to pop all your coins into a strong plastic bag (a freezer bag works perfectly) and tape it shut.

For an extra layer of security, I always recommend wrapping this bag of coins in a bit of bubble wrap or some newspaper. This padding stops everything from shifting about and keeps the parcel nice and discreet. When you're sending anything valuable, the goal is to make sure the package can't be easily tampered with. It's worth looking into things like tamper resistant containers to see the principles behind it.

The real key to secure packaging is to get rid of any movement and noise. A silent, tightly packed parcel is far less likely to draw unwanted attention or get damaged on its journey.

Using a Tracked and Signed-For Service

This part is non-negotiable. You absolutely must send your currency using a tracked and signed-for postal service. It’s a core part of our process and works hand-in-hand with our 100% guarantee. Why? Because a tracked service gives you a unique reference number, letting you follow your parcel’s journey right from the Post Office to our front door.

This gives you undeniable proof of postage and delivery, which offers total peace of mind. It’s the professional approach, and it’s trusted by our partners, including major charities and even police forces who rely on this exact method to exchange foreign coins and notes. If you want a more detailed walkthrough, you can find visuals and extra tips in our comprehensive packaging guide.

Before you pop to the Post Office, just run through this final checklist. It’ll make sure your parcel is ready for its journey:

Strong Packaging: Are you using a padded envelope or a proper box?
Contents Secured: Are the coins sealed in a bag and wrapped up so they can't move?
Sender's Details: Have you put your name and address inside the parcel?
Tracked Service: Are you definitely using a postal service that needs a signature on delivery?

By ticking off these simple steps, you can send your currency with confidence, knowing it’s protected every step of the way.

Turning Leftover Coins into Charitable Donations

That forgotten jar of foreign coins sitting on your shelf could be doing a lot more than just collecting dust. It's not just leftover holiday money—it’s a simple but powerful tool for good. We offer a straightforward way to turn that old currency into a meaningful contribution, making it incredibly easy to donate foreign coins to charity.

For anyone looking to make a difference, the process couldn't be simpler. When you send your leftover foreign currency to us, you can choose to have your payment sent directly to one of our trusted UK charity partners. It's a quick, no-fuss way to make sure your old coins and notes support a cause you believe in.

A Trusted Partner for Charities and Businesses

Our service isn't just for individuals. We're also a vital partner for charities and businesses all over the UK that end up with foreign currency from fundraising drives—think of those big airport donation globes or collection tins at supermarket checkouts. These heavy, mixed collections of foreign coins and notes can be a real logistical headache to deal with.

And that's where we come in. As a trusted partner to major brands, including national charities and even police forces, we take away all the administrative pain.

No Sorting Needed: Forget spending hours sifting through kilos of mixed-up coins and old banknotes. We do all the time-consuming work for you.
Guaranteed Conversion: Our 100% guaranteed service means every single usable coin and note is valued properly and turned into unrestricted funds for the charity.
Fast and Efficient: We turn these collections into valuable income quickly. This lets charities get back to their important work instead of getting bogged down in currency exchange.

Collecting foreign coins is still a surprisingly valuable source of income for many organisations. Specialist services like ours, which accept parcels of unsorted currency through the post, help charities unlock this otherwise dormant value. It gives them a predictable cash flow and slashes the admin costs they'd face trying to count it all themselves. You can find more insights into why accessible financial services are so important in reports like this one from the Post Office.

By streamlining the process of converting foreign coins and banknotes, we unlock a vital revenue stream for good causes, making sure no donation ever goes to waste.

This reliable system is a lifeline for organisations that receive large volumes of international currency. We handle all the complexities of the exchange, so they don’t have to. You can learn more about how to donate foreign coins to charity through our dedicated partnerships.

Whether you’re an individual with a handful of coins or a charity with a mountain of them, we make it easy to make a difference.

Your Questions Answered About Sending Currency

It’s completely normal to have a few questions before you send off your leftover currency. We get it. That’s why we’ve put together a few of our most common queries to give you clear, straightforward answers.

Our goal is to make sure you feel confident and secure every step of the way. It’s all part of our promise to deliver a fast, easy, and hassle-free experience.

Is It Truly Safe to Send My Foreign Currency to You?

Absolutely. While we’d never recommend just popping loose cash in a standard envelope, our service is built from the ground up with security in mind.

We insist that you use a tracked and signed-for postal service. This gives you a unique reference number to follow your parcel's journey right to our door. Once it arrives, your package is handled by trained staff in our secure facility. The entire process is 100% guaranteed.

It's why we're trusted by major UK organisations, including national charities, airports, and even police forces who rely on our secure and transparent procedures.

What if I Have Old Pre-Euro or Obsolete Currency?

This is our specialty. High street banks and currency exchange bureaus will often turn away old or out-of-circulation money, but we accept a massive range of it.

This includes old British coins, pre-euro notes like German Marks or French Francs, and tons of other discontinued banknotes from across the globe.

There's no need for you to sort through it all or figure out what’s still in circulation. Just send it all to us—our experts will identify and value everything. We turn what might look like worthless paper into real, spendable cash. It’s a key part of our mission to make it easy to convert foreign coins and banknotes.

How Quickly Will I Get Paid After Sending My Currency?

We’ve built our service to be as fast as it is simple. As soon as we receive and verify your currency, we guarantee to issue your payment within five working days.

You can choose to be paid directly into your UK bank account or via PayPal—whichever works best for you. We pride ourselves on our efficient process, making sure you get the exact value we quoted with absolutely no hidden fees.

Do I Really Not Have to Sort My Coins?

That's right—you have no need to sort your coins. Honestly, who has the time to sift through a big bag of mixed foreign coins? It’s a tedious job, which is why we do it for you.

Our unique weight-based wizard gives you a quick and easy estimate for your entire unsorted collection. Just send it all in one secure package, and our team will handle the complex job of sorting and valuation. It makes the process to exchange foreign coins incredibly straightforward.

Ready to unlock the value in your leftover foreign currency? At We Buy All Currency, our fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed service is trusted by households and major UK brands alike, including national charities, supermarkets, and police forces. We make it simple to exchange foreign coins and notes, with no need to sort anything. Visit our homepage to get started today!