Where to Sell Foreign Currency: A Fast and Easy Guide to the Best Rates
Posted by: Ian • 7 Jan 2026
Got a drawer full of leftover holiday money? We all do. The question is, what’s the best way to turn that stash of foreign coins and notes into actual cash you can spend?
For most people, especially when you’re dealing with a mix of old banknotes and unfamiliar coins, the answer is a specialist online postal service. It’s the fastest, easiest, and most hassle-free way to get real money back in your pocket without all the usual fuss. Our service is 100% guaranteed, and there's no need to sort your coins.
The Best Place to Sell Your Leftover Foreign Currency
After a fantastic trip abroad, it’s completely normal to come home with a pocketful of strange-looking coins and a few leftover notes. Your first thought might be to pop down to the local bank or an airport kiosk, but you’ll often find it’s a dead end.
Most high street banks simply won’t touch foreign coins. They might also offer terrible rates for small amounts of notes or just flat-out refuse to take any currency that’s old or obsolete. You're left holding a collection of money that feels pretty much worthless.
This is where a dedicated online currency exchange service really shines. We’ve built our entire process around making it fast, easy, and hassle-free to convert foreign coins and banknotes right from your home. You don’t even need to sort through it all or check if the currency is still valid – just pop it in a package and send it to us.
Our service is 100% guaranteed. We're trusted by major brands all over the UK, including leading charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces. They all rely on us for our credibility and trust, knowing we handle their foreign currency collections securely and efficiently.
This simple flowchart shows just how straightforward the process is when you've got foreign cash to deal with.
As you can see, using a specialist service is the most direct route to getting paid for your unused currency. We’ve gotten rid of the usual roadblocks to make the whole experience completely seamless.
To dig a bit deeper into getting the most value, you can learn more about finding the best currency exchange rates online in our detailed guide. Whether you need to exchange foreign coins, sell leftover foreign currency, or even donate foreign coins to charity, our platform offers a single, reliable solution for everything.
Why Your Jar of Foreign Coins Is a Hidden Treasure
We’ve all got one, haven’t we? That jar, box, or forgotten envelope stuffed with leftover foreign currency from holidays past. It’s a random jumble of US cents, shiny euro coins, and maybe a few colourful banknotes you never got around to spending. It’s easy to write this off as just pocket clutter, but you could be sitting on a tidy little windfall.
Think about it for a moment. That handful of euros from a weekend in Paris, the leftover dollars from a family trip to Florida, and the stray Swiss Francs from a business meeting all start to add up. While each little bit might seem trivial on its own, their combined value can be surprisingly high.
This isn't just something that happens in our homes; it reflects a much bigger picture. Imagine coming back from a sun-drenched holiday in Spain or a work trip to New York, only to find your pockets full of euros and dollars that end up gathering dust in a drawer. This is happening all over the UK. In fact, the Office for National Statistics reported a staggering £112.0 billion inflow in 'other investment' during Quarter 2 of 2025 alone, a figure driven largely by foreign investors depositing currency into UK banks. This just goes to show the massive volume of foreign currency sitting idle in the UK. You can dive deeper into these figures and read the full report from the ONS if you're curious.
Practical Tips for Finding Hidden Value
This is where we come in. Our service is designed to unlock that hidden potential without any of the usual hassle. You don’t need to spend hours trying to sort through grubby coins or figuring out which old notes are still valid. We offer a fast, easy, and straightforward way to exchange foreign coins and notes, turning that forgotten collection into real, spendable cash.
The real power is in adding it all up. Your small collection, combined with thousands of others, becomes a significant financial asset. Our job is to provide the simplest bridge between your dormant currency and its true value.
You might even be surprised by what you find stashed away. Lots of people hang onto obsolete currency, like old French Francs or German Deutschmarks, assuming they're now worthless. The good news is, many of these can often still be exchanged.
Our entire process is built on trust and simplicity, which is why we’re the chosen partner for major UK brands, from national charities and supermarkets to airports and even police forces. They rely on us to convert foreign coins and banknotes efficiently and securely. It's time to stop letting that money gather dust—unlock its value today.
Where Can You Exchange Foreign Coins and Notes?
So, you've got a jar full of leftover foreign cash from your holidays. What now? Your first thought might be to pop down to your local bank, the Post Office, or one of those bureau de change counters you see at the airport. They seem like the obvious choice, right?
For the odd, crisp banknote from a major country, they might just do the trick. But for most of us with a mixed bag of currency, these traditional options are surprisingly limited. You’ll often find they flat-out refuse to exchange foreign coins. Their entire system is geared towards paper money, meaning that pocketful of shrapnel is suddenly worthless in their eyes.
It gets worse if you have any old or obsolete banknotes, like French Francs or German Deutschmarks from before the Euro. You'll almost certainly be turned away. These places are set up to handle only the most common, current notes, and frankly, their exchange rates for small amounts are often pretty disappointing. Getting your head around these details is a key part of smart budget travel tips.
Why the High Street Can’t Help
The problem is that the UK's foreign exchange market is a behemoth, built for massive trades between big financial institutions, not for someone with a handful of holiday leftovers. London is a global financial hub, which makes foreign exchange big business, but that scale actually works against the average person.
The global market sees a staggering $9.6 trillion traded every single day. The bulk of that, however, is huge inter-dealer trades averaging $4.4 trillion daily. Your small bag of coins and notes is just a drop in an ocean they aren't equipped to deal with. This is why a specialised service isn’t just a nice-to-have; it's a necessity.
High street providers just don't have the setup or the know-how to efficiently convert foreign coins and banknotes that are old, mixed, or from less-common destinations. Their business model simply isn't designed for it.
Think of it like this: traditional exchanges are like wholesalers. They want to deal in bulk, standardised products (like current banknotes). A specialist service, on the other hand, is more like a dedicated artisan—we have the tools and expertise to handle the unique, varied, and often-overlooked items like your mixed coins and old currency.
Real-World Advice: The Specialist Advantage
This is exactly where a dedicated online exchange service comes in. Where others see a problem, we see value. We’ve designed our entire process to be fast, easy, and completely hassle-free for people who need to exchange foreign coins and notes without any fuss.
Here’s why a specialist is your best bet:
- No Sorting Needed: Don’t waste hours separating currencies. Just send us your mixed collection, and we’ll handle it.
- Coins Are Welcome: We specialise in what everyone else rejects. Every single coin is counted and adds to your payout.
- Obsolete Currency Accepted: Found some old Pesetas or Lire? Don't throw them away! We can often convert them back into pounds for you.
- Guaranteed and Trusted: We’re trusted by major UK brands—including charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces—to manage their foreign currency collections reliably.
By choosing a specialist, you sidestep the frustrations of the high street and unlock the real value hiding in your entire currency collection. Ready to see just how easy it is to get started?
How to Exchange Foreign Coins and Notes The Easy Way
Are you ready to find out where to sell your foreign currency without all the usual headaches? Forget about queuing at the bank or spending hours trying to figure out which coin is which. Our online postal exchange service is designed to be fast, simple, and completely hassle-free. We’ll turn that mixed bag of currency into cash with minimal effort on your part.
The whole process is built around making your life easier. We know you don’t have time to sort through piles of shrapnel from different holidays, so we’ve done away with that step entirely. Just gather up all your leftover foreign currency—every last coin and note—and we’ll do the heavy lifting for you.
Helpful Advice for a Smooth Exchange
Getting paid for your leftover currency is as simple as sending a parcel. Here’s a quick look at our 100% guaranteed process:
- Get a Quick Estimate: Jump on our online calculator to get an instant idea of what your currency is worth. This gives you a clear and transparent valuation right from the start.
- Pack It Securely: No need for any fancy packaging. Just find a sturdy envelope or a small box and pop your coins and notes inside. A real-world tip is to use a bit of tape to secure the parcel seams for extra security.
- Post It with Confidence: Send your package to us using a tracked delivery service. This gives you complete peace of mind, as you can follow its journey right to our door.
- Receive Your Payment Fast: As soon as we receive and verify your currency, we’ll process your payment. You’ll have the cash in your account before you know it.
One of the best things about our service is the ‘no need to sort’ feature. Whether you have a handful of euros, a pocketful of US cents, or a mix of old banknotes you can no longer use, just put it all in together. This simple approach saves a massive amount of time and effort, especially since we specialise in handling the mixed collections that high street exchanges won’t even look at.
You can learn more about the entire process by checking out our detailed guide on how to exchange foreign currency for more practical tips.
Our commitment to a fast and easy experience is why we're trusted by major UK brands, including national charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces. They rely on our secure and efficient service to convert foreign coins and banknotes, and you can too. Stop letting that jar of coins gather dust and unlock its value today.
What to Do with Old and Obsolete Currency
Have you ever stumbled across a handful of old French Francs or German Deutschmarks while clearing out a drawer? It’s easy to dismiss them as historical relics, maybe even chuck them out. But hold on a moment—that old, obsolete currency can still be worth real money.
While your high street bank or local bureau de change will almost certainly turn you away, specialist services exist specifically to convert foreign coins and banknotes that are no longer in circulation. This offers a lifeline for money that would otherwise be worthless, turning those forgotten notes and coins into pounds you can actually spend. It’s a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to fill a gap that traditional exchanges just won't touch.
Practical Tips for Old Currency
You’d be surprised at the sheer range of old currencies that can still be exchanged. So many people are sitting on cash from pre-eurozone countries, completely unaware that it still has value. Our service is all about breathing new life into this forgotten money.
We regularly help customers exchange foreign coins and notes from a whole host of obsolete currencies. Some of the most common ones we see include:
- Spanish Pesetas: The currency of Spain before the euro took over.
- German Deutschmarks: A famously strong and stable currency before it was replaced.
- French Francs: Used across France and its territories for centuries.
- Italian Lira: The old currency of Italy, often found in surprisingly large denominations.
This isn't just about pocket change. We provide a comprehensive service that unlocks the hidden value in currency history, and we're trusted by major UK brands like charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces for our reliability and security.
Why Government Institutions Can't Help
It's a common assumption that a country’s central bank, like the Bank of England, might handle public exchanges of leftover foreign money. In reality, that's just not what they do. Their focus is on managing huge national reserves, not dealing with individual collections of old holiday money.
For example, UK government statistics show the Bank of England's net foreign currency holdings at a relatively modest $14 million. That figure is completely dwarfed by massive liabilities in things like financial forwards and swaps. This just goes to show their operations are geared towards large-scale economic management, not public currency exchange. If you’re curious about the sheer scale of these operations, you can dive into the latest UK government reserves data for a closer look.
This is exactly why our 100% guaranteed service is so vital. We bridge the gap between your old currency and its modern-day value, making sure that nothing goes to waste.
Turn Your Leftover Coins into a Charitable Donation
Sometimes, the real value of your leftover currency isn’t what it can buy you, but the good it can do for others. Instead of letting that jar of old coins and notes collect dust, you have the powerful option to donate foreign coins to charity, turning small change into a significant impact.
This is a fantastic alternative if you just want to give back without any extra cost or fuss. The process is just as fast and easy as our standard exchange. You simply send us your currency, and we handle the rest, directing the funds to one of our trusted UK charity partners. It’s a seamless way to support some truly incredible causes.
A Simple Process for a Big Impact
Our donation service is designed to be straightforward, whether you’re an individual with a bit of leftover holiday money or a large organisation. We're proud to be the trusted partner for major UK brands, including airports, supermarkets, and even police forces, who rely on us to manage their currency collection schemes.
Our process is 100% guaranteed and couldn't be simpler:
- No Sorting Needed: Just like our cash exchange, you don't need to sort your coins or notes. We accept everything, including old and obsolete currency.
- We Handle the Conversion: We convert foreign coins and banknotes into pounds sterling on your behalf.
- Direct Donation: The full value is then passed directly to your chosen charity from our list of partners.
This approach is at the heart of our commitment to social responsibility. By making these donations easy, we provide a vital fundraising stream for charities, reinforcing our credibility as a partner that truly cares.
This option is perfect for anyone looking for a meaningful way to deal with their leftover foreign currency. To learn more about how you can support a good cause, check out our guide on where you can donate foreign coins. It's a simple act that makes a world of difference.
Time to Turn Your Leftover Currency into Cash
We’ve journeyed through all the ways you can exchange your foreign currency, uncovering the surprising value hidden in that jar of old coins and notes. If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: your leftover foreign currency—even old, obsolete banknotes and a jumble of mixed coins—is an asset just waiting to be cashed in.
You don't have to wonder what to do with it anymore. Forget the queues at the bank or being told they don't accept coins. There’s a fast, easy, and completely hassle-free way to handle it, designed with people like you in mind. Our service makes it simple to convert your foreign coins and banknotes into money you can actually spend, all without leaving your home.
A Trusted Service for a Reason
There's a reason major UK brands put their trust in us. From leading charities and supermarkets to airports and even police forces, they rely on our secure and efficient process for handling their foreign currency collections. We offer a 100% guaranteed service that cuts through the confusion, making sure you get the value you deserve.
We've designed the whole thing to be as straightforward as possible:
- No need to sort anything: Just put all your currency together.
- We accept it all: Current notes, old banknotes, and mixed foreign coins are all welcome.
- Clear and quick: You'll get a valuation promptly, followed by a fast payment.
When you choose a specialist service, you're not just swapping money. You're choosing an efficient, reliable, and trustworthy path. We turn a once-complicated chore into a simple and rewarding experience.
Whether you're looking to cash in your collection or donate foreign coins to charity, the next step is simple. Stop letting that money sit idle in a drawer. Use our online calculator today to find out what your currency is worth and start your fast, easy, and secure exchange.
Ready to unlock the value of your forgotten currency? Get an instant valuation and start your exchange with We Buy All Currency now. Head over to our homepage to see just how simple it is to turn your coins and notes into cash. Start your hassle-free currency exchange today!