A Guide to Weight Coins UK and Turn Them Into Cash
Posted by: Ian Stainton • 21 Jan 2026
Chances are, you've got a heavy jar of mixed coins gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. We all do. Sorting through it feels like a job for another day, but what if we told you there's a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to turn that shrapnel into actual cash?
The secret is to forget sorting altogether and just weigh it. This is the exact method trusted by major UK brands, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces to quickly process large volumes of mixed currency. It’s the fastest, most reliable way to convert that clutter into money you can actually spend.
Unlock the Value Hidden in Your Coin Jar
It’s a familiar story in households across the UK: a stash of forgotten money. It might be a jar of foreign coins, a bag of old pre-decimal currency, or leftover holiday money from trips gone by. It often feels more like clutter than cash, mainly because the thought of sorting, counting, and exchanging it all is just too much hassle.
The traditional route means spending hours separating coins and then trying your luck at the bank, which usually won’t touch foreign or obsolete currency. But there’s a fast, easy, and completely hassle-free alternative that requires no sorting at all. By simply weighing your entire collection, you can get an instant estimate of its worth and get it converted into spendable money.
Why Weighing is the Easiest Method
This simple, weight-based system is built for convenience. It’s trusted by organisations that handle huge volumes of mixed currency every day, like supermarkets, airports, and charities, because it turns a tedious chore into a quick, straightforward process.
The benefits are clear:
- No Sorting Needed: Don't worry about separating Euros from Dollars or old pence from new. Just tip it all in together.
- Fast Valuation: Get an immediate online estimate just by popping the total weight in.
- 100% Guaranteed Service: Our process is backed by a satisfaction guarantee, so you know you're getting a fair and transparent deal.
- Handle Any Currency: This method is perfect to exchange foreign coins, leftover foreign currency, and even old, obsolete money that the banks will turn away.
This approach is especially handy for more unusual or older currency. If you're curious about valuing other collectibles you might have, this guide on how much your antique is worth offers some great insights into the process.
With around 27 billion coins in circulation in the UK, a staggering amount of money is just sitting idle in people's homes. Our service helps put that dormant value back where it belongs – in your pocket.
The scale of physical money is huge; according to the Royal Mint, that figure includes every single denomination currently in circulation. Ready to find out what your own collection is worth? You can start the process right now and learn how to convert your coins to cash.
Getting Your Coins Ready – No Sorting Required!
Let's be honest, the biggest reason that jar of old holiday money is still sitting in the cupboard is the sheer thought of having to sort through it. Who has the time to separate Pesetas from Dollars, or old shillings from modern Euros?
Well, here’s the good news. With our weight-based service, you don’t have to. The most difficult part of the whole process is simply tipping all your unwanted currency into a single bag. That’s it. Our entire system is built to handle completely mixed collections, which is what makes it so refreshingly simple and hassle-free.
So, What Can You Chuck In The Bag?
You can throw in a massive range of old and new currency, which makes it perfect for a proper clear-out. Think about all the odd places you might have cash stashed away.
- Leftover Holiday Money: Got a mix of US Dollars, Swiss Francs, and Australian Dollars from various trips? Perfect. Tip them all in together.
- Old European Currencies: Still have some German Deutsche Marks, French Francs, or Spanish Pesetas from before the Euro? They still have value, so don't leave them out.
- Withdrawn UK Money: Don’t forget about old British coins and notes that are no longer legal tender. This includes pre-decimal currency like shillings and even old sixpences.
- Charity Collection Tins: This is a game-changer for fundraisers. You can pour the contents of dozens of collection buckets into one shipment without counting a single coin.
We’ve built our reputation on being fast, trustworthy, and efficient. It’s why we’re the go-to partner for some of the biggest UK names, including major charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces who need to process huge, unsorted collections of currency.
One Quick Check Before You Seal the Deal
While you don't need to do any sorting, it’s worth taking 30 seconds for a quick visual scan. Over the years, all sorts of random bits and bobs can find their way into a coin jar.
Practical Tip: Pour all your coins onto a baking tray or into a large bowl. A quick glance is usually all it takes to spot and remove things like buttons, old tokens, paper clips, or other oddments. This just helps us process your valuation that little bit faster.
Once that's done, you're ready to go. No need to group coins by country or separate notes from change. Whether it's a small bag of coins from a weekend in Spain or a huge bucket from a school fundraiser, the hassle-free approach is 100% guaranteed.
Ready to turn that clutter into cash? Head over to our homepage and see how easy it is.
How to Weigh Your Coins Accurately at Home
Right, let’s get down to the practical bit – turning that pile of coins into actual cash. The best part? You don’t need any fancy equipment. A simple set of digital kitchen scales will do the job perfectly.
First things first, grab an empty container – a bowl, a sturdy box, anything that can hold your coins. Pop it on the scales and hit the ‘tare’ or ‘zero’ button. This is a crucial step because it zeroes out the weight of the container, making sure you’re only measuring the weight of the coins themselves.
Getting the Final Weight
With the scales zeroed, you can now pour your entire, unsorted collection of coins into the container. Take note of the total weight. It's best to measure in kilograms (kg) if you can, as this gives the most accurate reading for our online calculator. That one number is all you need to find out what your currency is worth.
A small handful of coins from a weekend trip to Spain might only be a few hundred grams. On the other hand, a big charity collection tin could easily weigh several kilograms. Whatever the amount, this simple measurement gets you an instant, no-obligation quote. It’s a fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed way to see the value hiding in your coin jar.
To make it even clearer, here’s a quick visual guide showing the process from start to finish.
The whole system is designed to be completely hassle-free, which is why we’re trusted by major UK charities and businesses to handle their currency.
Why Weighing is Such a Reliable Method
You might be wondering how we can value coins just by their weight. It all comes down to the incredibly consistent manufacturing standards used to make modern money. Every single coin denomination has a specific, official weight. This allows us to calculate the value of a large, mixed batch with remarkable accuracy.
If you’re curious about the nitty-gritty, you might find our guide on the weight of a two-pound coin interesting. It really breaks down the details.
This weight-based system is so dependable, it’s the exact same method used by huge organisations like airports, supermarkets, and even police forces when they need to process their own large volumes of unsorted coins.
By using weight, we take all the tedious sorting work off your hands. It doesn’t matter if you want to exchange foreign coins, donate foreign coins to charity, or just cash in a mix of old coins and banknotes – weighing is the simplest way to get it done.
From Weight to Cash with an Online Calculator
Once you've weighed your unsorted pile of coins, believe it or not, the hardest part is over. Turning that number into a real-world value is refreshingly simple. Just pop the total weight into our online currency calculator to get an instant, no-obligation valuation.
This is where the process gets really slick. Forget about trying to identify obscure coins or looking up today’s exchange rates. Our system does all the heavy lifting for you, giving you an immediate estimate based purely on the weight you provide.
Transparent Valuations You Can Trust
We're big believers in keeping things completely transparent. When you get your quote, you’ll see the estimated exchange rates right there on the screen. There are absolutely no hidden fees or nasty surprises waiting for you down the line.
The valuation you see is what your currency is worth. It’s this straightforward, honest approach that has earned us the trust of some major UK brands—we handle currency exchange for charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces.
We stand by our valuations with a 100% happiness guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with the final amount after we've processed your collection, we will return all of your currency to you, completely free of charge.
This guarantee makes the entire experience completely risk-free. Real-world insight: a charity fundraiser who has just collected several buckets of mixed foreign coins after an event can enter the total weight on our site and instantly see the potential donation value, making planning so much easier.
Handling All Types of UK and Foreign Coins
Our system is built to handle the incredible variety of coins out there. It makes no difference to the initial valuation whether you want to exchange foreign coins from a dozen different countries or you've got a mix of old and new British money.
Just think about the UK's own coinage. The designs were significantly updated from 2008, yet all the pre-2008 coins are still legal tender and jangling around in pockets alongside the new ones. You can learn more about the history of Pound Sterling coins to see just how complex it is.
Our service handles all this variety without a fuss, making it simple to convert foreign coins and banknotes with absolutely no sorting. It’s the perfect solution for your leftover holiday money or if you want to donate foreign coins to charity. The process is always fast, easy, and reliable.
Ready to see what your collection is worth? The next step is getting your currency to us and getting paid. The entire journey, from weighing your coins to payment, is designed for your convenience. To get started, head over to our homepage for your instant quote.
Securely Packaging and Sending Your Currency
Getting your currency safely to us is the final, crucial step before you get paid. The good news? We’ve made it fast, easy, and secure. This is the exact same trusted method used by our major partners—charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces—who regularly send us large and valuable collections of currency.
Your first job is to pick the right packaging. For heavier collections, a sturdy cardboard box is your best bet. If you've got a smaller amount, a well-padded jiffy bag will do the trick perfectly. The main thing is to use something strong enough to avoid any tears or splits while it's in transit.
Preparing Your Parcel for Posting
Once you’ve got your box or bag, simply pour your mixed coins and notes inside. And don't worry about sorting them—that's our job!
Seal the package up tight with strong packing tape. Pay a bit of extra attention to the seams and corners to make sure it's completely secure and nothing can fall out.
Before you send it, there’s one vital step. You need to complete the online form on our website. This gives you a unique reference number that ties your parcel directly to you. It's essential that you print this form and pop it inside the package so we can process your payment quickly and without any delays. For more detailed instructions and handy tips, check out our comprehensive packaging guide.
When it comes to posting your parcel, we always recommend using a tracked service. Options like Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery give you complete peace of mind, as you can follow your parcel’s journey right to our door. You’ll get proof of delivery, which adds that extra layer of security.
Trust is at the very heart of our service. Our 100% guarantee means your collection is in safe hands from the moment it leaves you. This commitment to security is why so many established UK brands rely on us to convert foreign coins and notes efficiently.
The sheer volume of physical money in the UK is staggering. Back in 2016, the total value of notes and coins in circulation hit over £80 billion. That figure just goes to show how much currency is out there, and our service provides a secure way to process a small part of it.
Sending your leftover foreign currency, whether it’s from a holiday or a charity collection, should be simple and worry-free. Just follow these straightforward steps, and your package will arrive safely, ready for our team to verify and send your payment. It’s the final step in turning that forgotten currency into cash you can actually use.
Receiving Your Fast and Hassle-Free Payment
This is the part everyone looks forward to—getting paid. We've made our process incredibly quick, reliable, and hassle-free, turning that collection of old coins and notes into cash without any fuss.
Once your parcel lands with us, our team gets straight to work verifying the contents. You won't be left waiting around; we process your payment within just five working days of receiving your currency. It's all part of our 100% guaranteed service that’s trusted by major UK brands.
Choosing How You Get Paid
We offer a few flexible and convenient ways to receive your money. Just pick the one that suits you best when you're checking out online.
- Direct Bank Transfer: We can send a secure payment directly into your UK bank account.
- PayPal: If you prefer, we can send a quick digital payment for instant access to your funds.
- Donate to Charity: You also have the option to donate foreign coins to charity, supporting one of the fantastic partner organisations we work with.
Secure, Transparent, and Guaranteed
The whole journey is designed to give you complete peace of mind. After you've sent your currency, understanding delivery confirmation helps you track its safe arrival, which is the trigger for our swift payment process. We’re committed to being fully transparent when you exchange foreign coins and notes, from the moment you first weigh your coins to the second you see the payment.
Ready to convert your leftover foreign currency into something valuable? Visit our homepage to get your instant quote today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exchanging Coins
Curious about how we turn your spare change into cash? Below, you’ll find the answers to the queries we hear most often. We aim for a smooth, transparent process from start to finish—no surprises, just straightforward, helpful advice.
What Types Of Coins And Notes Can I Send
No need to worry about sorting or checking dates. We accept:
- Current and obsolete foreign coins
- Pre-euro currency from countries across the globe
- Old British and Irish money, including pre-decimal coins
- Large, mixed or unsorted collections
Simply gather everything in a secure package and send it our way. Whether you want to exchange foreign coins and notes or donate foreign coins to charity, our team handles the rest.
Key Takeaway: We take the sorting off your hands—just box up your collection and post it.
How Accurate Is The Initial Weight-Based Quote
Our weight-based quotes draw on data from thousands of kilograms of coins processed each month. That gives you a realistic estimate before you send anything.
- Calculated using average values for each currency
- Transparent breakdown so you know where each penny comes from
- Minor adjustments possible once we sort and count
If the final total doesn’t match your expectations, we’ll return your coins and notes at no cost under our 100% happiness guarantee.
What If I Have A Large Collection
Big collections don’t faze us. In fact, we specialise in handling bulk exchanges for:
- Businesses and charities
- Airports and tourist attractions
- Police forces and municipal organisations
Our weight-based system saves you hours of counting and verifying. For very large or high-value collections, just get in touch via our website. We’ll provide personalised advice and guide you through our secure, hassle-free process to convert foreign coins and banknotes.
Ready to give your unwanted currency a new lease of life? It’s fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed. At We Buy All Currency, major UK brands including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces trust us to make coin and note exchanges painless and hassle-free. Get your instant, no-obligation quote today by visiting We Buy All Currency.