Exchanging American coins

So, I sat down and counted all the change that somehow managed to make the move to the UK with me. I have $13.14, completely in coins. After a somewhat adventurous trip to a post office branch that does currency conversion, I learned that they will only exchange foreign notes.

Does anyone know of any places around Manchester that might convert my coins for me? I know it would only come to ~£8, but every little bit helps, and $13 in coins is a bit of a pain to store.

It's pretty standard in most countries to only exchange notes AFAIK. There seems to be a website called Cash4Coins that will exchange foreign coins, but I don't know how good of an exchange you'll get. You could save it for your next trip to the US, or exchange it with someone you know who is going over soon. You're more likely to get something for them in a personal exchange than an official one.

It's pretty standard in most countries to only exchange notes AFAIK. There seems to be a website called Cash4Coins that will exchange foreign coins, but I don't know how good of an exchange you'll get. You could save it for your next trip to the US, or exchange it with someone you know who is going over soon. You're more likely to get something for them in a personal exchange than an official one.

Thanks for your reply

I'll have to see if I can find anyone heading over soon. I looked at the Cash4Coins site, but it seems like if I have to post the coins to them, it would cost almost their value just to ship.

$13 in coins is a bit of a pain to store.

Can't you just put them into a bag and shove them to the back of a cupboard or something?  Then you can use them next time you go to the US.

I'm with the "save it til your next trip" people.  We even have a wad of singles we're saving for then as well as a fair bit of shrapnel.

We even have a wad of singles we're saving for then as well as a fair bit of shrapnel.

Cabbage & Smash! 
I've got some too... singles, fivers and lots of coins.  Taking them over when I go in June (first time I'll have been over in 7 years!)

If you aren't going back soon and really want to exchange them we are in Manchester and can swap with you if you want.  DH is going in a few weeks but he usually brings more back but we are going again in June so I always take what we have and either try and use most of it up or else take it to the bank.

Grandparents each sent the kids a fiver for Easter to spend when we go back- too bad we can't get some air miles  on those notes

I also have an ever growing collection of US coins and some one dollar bills.  I generally just save them until I make a trip back to the US and bring them with me.  Even if they hang around for a while, I figure they're not going anywhere. 

We always save it. When we lived in the States for 3 years, we had some GBP left from our move and we just stuck it in an envelope for when we travelled back for visits (Hubby usually used it on the plane for drinks ) This time around, when I arrived here on my visa I had like 30 dollars in paper money and a ton of change. Its put aside for our visit in May...its not going to go bad or anything so it doesn't matter how long it sits for.

Aye i just put them aside and keep em for the next trip back. I always seem to end up with change and a few ones and sometimes a fiver or two..

I always save for the next trip. Even on trips, when we come back I don't bother with getting rid of them because I'll have them as a start for the next trip. At the moment I have $16 in cash and about $10 in coins. I just tuck them away for the next time. I jokingly refer to the cash (because I always seem to have some left over from our airport money) as my 'Starbucks money' for the next time we land.

It's not that easy to change large amounts of coins for bills even in the US. The machines at the supermarket either make a charge or you have to have vouchers for the store. My bank will take them but I have to put them in a canvas sack, which ends up being pretty heavy.
Always a good idea to have a few coins and small bills for both countries. Even a few Euros.

My bank in the States will still take them, and from any container you take them in, including the gallon size glass pickle jar I used. I still struggle with the thought of counting them yourself and bagging them in specific amounts here. It is so much easier when they dump them into their counting/sorting machine for you. I love laziness sometimes.