Where Can I Change My Coins for Cash in the UK? A Hassle-Free Guide
Posted by: Ian • 9 Nov 2025
So, you're wondering where you can change your coins for cash? The best place really depends on what kind of shrapnel you’ve got rattling around. If it’s standard UK currency, popping down to your bank or a supermarket machine are solid choices.
But what about that tub of leftover foreign currency or those old, obsolete coins you’ve inherited? For those, a specialist online exchange service is your best bet by a long shot. Our service is fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed, offering a truly hassle-free way to convert foreign coins and banknotes without any need to sort them first.
Your Quick Guide to Changing Coins for Cash
Trying to figure out where to exchange a mixed bag of coins can feel like a bit of a maze. A lot of people head straight to their high street bank, only to be told they have strict rules, you need to be a customer, and they almost never touch foreign or old coins. This is where knowing your options from the get-go saves a ton of time and faff.
To make things simple, this handy guide shows the best route depending on what you’ve got.
As you can see, the path is pretty clear: if you're dealing with leftover foreign currency, a specialist service is the most direct way to get some value back.
Comparing Your Coin Exchange Options
Picking the right method is all about balancing convenience, fees, and the type of currency you're holding. A dedicated service really comes into its own when you need to exchange foreign coins and notes. They offer a fast, easy process without you needing to sort through a thing. Our service is trusted by major UK brands, including charities and supermarkets, for this very reason.
To help you decide at a glance, we've put together a simple comparison of the most common methods available here in the UK.
Comparing Your Coin Exchange Options
| Method | Best For | Typical Fees | Accepts Foreign/Old Coins | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Street Bank | Current UK coins | Often free for customers | No | No-fee deposits |
| Supermarket Machine | Quick UK coin exchange | 8-12% commission | No | Instant convenience |
| Specialist Service | Foreign & old currency | Clearly stated rates | Yes | 100% Guaranteed exchange |
Ultimately, while banks and supermarket machines have their place for everyday UK change, they just aren’t set up to handle anything out of the ordinary. For that leftover holiday money or old currency, a specialist service is the only route that guarantees you can exchange it, hassle-free.
The Reality of Using High Street Banks and Post Offices
When you’re stuck with a hefty jar of coins, your first instinct is probably to head to your local bank or Post Office. It seems like the most obvious solution, right? Unfortunately, what seems straightforward often turns into a dead end, leaving you with the same heavy jar you started with.
First off, most banks won't even talk to you unless you're a customer. If you don't have an account with them, you'll likely be turned away at the door. That alone narrows your options considerably.
Even if you are a customer, you can't just plonk a mixed bag of shrapnel on the counter. The banks expect you to do all the legwork. You'll need to meticulously sort all your UK coins into the correct denominations and then bag them up in their specific, clear plastic money bags. It’s a tedious, time-consuming task that most people simply don’t have the patience for.
Strict Limits and Currency Restrictions
On top of all the sorting, banks have some pretty rigid rules. They’ll only take current UK legal tender, which means that leftover holiday money is a definite no-go. If you try to exchange foreign coins and banknotes, you’ll almost certainly be met with a polite "sorry, we can't help." They just aren’t set up to handle international currency this way.
And what about old currency? If you've stumbled upon a stash of the old round £1 coins, you're out of luck there, too. Since the old £1 coin was taken out of circulation in 2017, banks are no longer required to accept them in large quantities, despite millions of them still being out there. You might get away with exchanging one or two if you catch a friendly cashier, but for any significant amount, you’ll need a specialist service. You can learn more about the challenges of exchanging old £1 coins and find better solutions online.
Key Takeaway: Banks and Post Offices are really only an option if you’re an account holder with perfectly sorted, current UK coins. For anything else—foreign, mixed, or obsolete currency—they simply can’t help. This makes them a pretty impractical choice for most people with a varied collection of coins.
Are Supermarket Coin Counting Machines Worth It?
We’ve all seen them, usually tucked away by the entrance of the big supermarkets—those giant, brightly-coloured machines that promise to instantly turn your mountain of shrapnel into useful cash. And for standard, current UK coins, they’re undeniably convenient. Just tip your jar in, and the machine does all the tedious sorting and counting for you.
But that convenience comes at a price. A pretty steep one, actually. Most of these machines charge a commission fee of around 8% to 12% of your total. It might not sound like a huge chunk, but it adds up surprisingly fast. If you pour in £50 worth of coins, you could walk away with up to £6 less. That’s a lot to pay for saving a few minutes.
The Major Drawback: No Foreign or Old Coins
The real deal-breaker with these machines is what they don't accept. They are built for one job and one job only: counting current UK coins. If you have anything else mixed in, you’re out of luck.
- Leftover Holiday Money: Any euros, dollars, or other foreign coins from your travels will be instantly rejected and spat back out.
- Old or Obsolete Coins: Got some of the old round £1 coins or even pre-decimal currency? The machine won’t have a clue what they are.
- Banknotes Aren't Welcome: They are strictly coin-only machines, so you can’t use them to convert foreign coins and banknotes all in one go.
This means that if you're searching for "where can I change my coins for cash" and your stash includes anything beyond modern sterling, these machines just aren't the answer. For anyone with leftover holiday money or a tin of inherited old coins, they’re a complete dead end.
Think about it this way: you pour in a jar containing £30 in UK coins, €10 in leftover holiday money, and a handful of old round £1 coins. The machine will only process the £30, charge you about £3 for the privilege, and then return everything else. You're left with the same problem you started with—finding another solution for your foreign and obsolete currency.
The Easiest Way to Exchange Foreign and Old Coins
When high street banks and supermarket coin machines just won't do, a specialist online currency exchange service is a game-changer. It’s designed to be the simplest answer to the question "where can I change my coins for cash?", especially when you're faced with a jumble of different currencies. Forget the usual roadblocks; this approach is fast, easy, and completely hassle-free.
The single biggest perk? There is absolutely no need to sort or count your coins. Imagine tipping out that heavy jar of mixed shrapnel—old UK coins, leftover holiday euros, US cents, and even obsolete banknotes—and sending it all off in one go. With a dedicated online service, that's exactly what you do. All the hard work is done for you.
A Process Built on Trust and Simplicity
Credibility is everything when you're sending money away. That’s why we’re trusted by major UK organisations, from national supermarkets and well-known charities to major airports and even police forces. They all rely on us to process their collected currency securely and efficiently.
This trust is built on a 100% guaranteed process, ensuring you receive the agreed value for your money. It’s a straightforward way to exchange foreign coins and notes, including currencies that are no longer in circulation. If you've got a stash of old British money, for instance, you can find out more in our guide on the easy way to exchange old British coins and notes.
By choosing a specialist, you can convert a diverse collection of currency in one simple transaction. This includes everything from current foreign banknotes to old, pre-decimal coins that other services simply will not touch.
This method is perfect for anyone with:
- Leftover foreign currency from multiple holidays.
- Inherited collections of old or obsolete money.
- A mixed jar of UK and international coins.
Ultimately, it combines the convenience that supermarket machines promise with the capability to handle the complex currency exchanges that banks avoid. You get a transparent, reliable service that turns forgotten currency into cash, paid directly into your bank or PayPal account.
Turn Leftover Foreign Currency Into a Charitable Donation
We've all been there. You get back from a trip abroad with a pocketful of foreign coins that aren't quite enough to bother exchanging. So, what happens to them? More often than not, they end up rattling around in a drawer, completely forgotten.
But what if that small change could make a big difference? Instead of letting it gather dust, you can choose to donate foreign coins to charity. It's a simple, powerful way to support a good cause without it costing you a penny.
Making a Real Difference, Simply
The process is fast, easy, and completely hassle-free. You don’t even need to sort through the coins. Just gather them up, send them to us, and we handle the rest, turning your forgotten currency into vital funding for organisations doing incredible work across the UK.
We’re trusted by many major UK charities who rely on our service to convert foreign coins and notes into usable funds. For them, handling these small, mixed-currency donations on their own would be almost impossible. By partnering with us, they unlock an effective fundraising stream from money that most people would just throw away.
This isn’t just about clearing out clutter; it’s a 100% guaranteed way to ensure that every last cent, euro, or yen goes towards making a positive impact. Your small change collectively adds up to significant support.
Donating is just as straightforward as exchanging for cash. It’s a fantastic way to give back and proves that even a few forgotten coins can go a long way in supporting the causes you care about.
If you like the sound of this, you can find out more about where you can donate foreign coins and see just how simple it is to get started. You'll not only solve the problem of what to do with leftover currency but also contribute to important work across the country.
Why Trust a Dedicated Currency Exchange Service?
When you’re trying to figure out where to change your coins for cash, trust is everything. You need to know your money is being handled safely and professionally, especially if you’re dealing with old or foreign currency. A dedicated exchange service offers a level of security and expertise that you just won't find with other options.
Our service operates right here in the UK, which is a global hub for currency operations. The Bank of England manages huge reserves, and the UK's foreign exchange market handles over a third of the world's daily turnover. This solid financial backdrop allows specialists like us to offer a reliable and secure way to convert foreign coins and banknotes. You can get a better sense of this framework by checking out the Bank of England's latest survey results.
Partnerships Built on Reliability
Credibility isn't something you can just claim; it has to be earned. We've become a trusted partner for some of the UK’s most recognisable organisations, all of whom count on our fast, easy, and hassle-free service.
- Major Charities: We help national charities process mountains of donations, turning mixed bags of forgotten currency into vital funds for their causes.
- National Supermarkets: Big-name retail chains trust our systems to efficiently handle currency collections from their stores.
- Airports & Police Forces: Even official bodies rely on our secure processes for managing recovered or donated foreign money.
These partnerships are a testament to our commitment to providing a 100% guaranteed service. Our entire process is transparent, secure, and designed to give you complete peace of mind, whether you want to exchange foreign coins for yourself or donate foreign coins to charity.
When you choose a dedicated service, you're not just making a transaction—you're getting an expert solution. Unlike banks that often refuse foreign coins or machines that can't identify old currency, we have the specialist knowledge to handle it all. We make sure you get the full value you deserve, without you having to sort a single coin.
A Few Final Questions Answered
Even with the best plan, it’s natural to have a few questions before you get started. Let’s tackle some of the most common queries we hear from people looking to change their coins for cash.
Can I Exchange Foreign Coins at a UK Bank?
You’ll almost certainly be turned away. High street banks in the UK simply aren't set up to handle foreign coins. While some might exchange foreign banknotes for existing customers, the hassle and cost of processing international shrapnel mean coins are almost always rejected.
This is where a specialist currency service becomes your best and only real option for that leftover holiday money.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Change My Coins?
For current UK coins, your own bank is probably the most cost-effective choice, as long as you’re willing to do the sorting and bagging yourself.
But when you're dealing with a mix of foreign, old, or assorted UK coins, a dedicated online service is the smart move. It helps you sidestep the high commission fees from supermarket machines while offering a vital service that banks just don't provide. It’s the most hassle-free way to get value from a mixed collection.
A legitimate service will always have a professional website, clear contact details, and a trail of positive reviews. Trusted providers, like us, are often partnered with well-known charities and major brands, including police forces and airports, which speaks volumes about their reliability. Our service is trusted by major brands and comes with a 100% guaranteed process.
What Do I Do with Old Out-of-Circulation UK Coins?
Found an old round £1 coin? Those, and other obsolete UK coins, are no longer legal tender. You can't spend them in shops, and banks won't accept them for deposit.
Don't just leave them in a drawer! A specialist currency exchange is the perfect solution. We have the expertise to process these obsolete coins and banknotes, making sure you can still unlock their hidden value. It’s a fast and simple part of our 100% guaranteed service.
Ready to turn that forgotten currency into cash, the fast, easy and hassle-free way? With We Buy All Currency, there's no need to sort or count. Just send us your mixed coins and notes, and we'll handle the rest. Our 100% guaranteed service is trusted by charities, supermarkets, and official bodies across the UK.
Visit us at https://www.webuyallcurrency.com to get started today.