Pre Euro Currency - any hopes?
 

As I'm getting ready for my Europe trip next month (and OH SO EXCITED!!!) I ran across an old stash of old European currency from past trips - about $10-$40 each of German marks, French francs, Belgian francs, Dutch whatevers, Austrian schillings etc. Anyone know if there's any place to exchange them for Euros or Dollars, or is it too late?<BR>Thanks!<BR>Carin

I believe you have till 2/17/2005 to exchange francs to euros only at the Banque de France (in Paris the branch is beside the Palais Royal gardens).

i am not sure of the expiration dates, as noted above, but generally you are able to exchange the notes at the official bank of each country...

I agree with the above. You will need to go to the national bank of each country that you want to exchange currency from. But there will be no problem exchanging it at the national bank of each country for the full exchange rate of each country as established with the inception of the euro.

Any options if you're unable to actually go to each country - for example, do places like Thomas Cook exchange old currency?

Some bureaux de change still take old curremcies for euro, but they'll charge a commission and for small amounts you mention it will come to a sizeable proportion. For $10 I wouldn't bother (and keep as souvenirs or put into airport charity box). For $40 I might drop in at a branch of national bank (but only in the same country as the former national currency).

We took about $25 worth of marks with us to Germany last June. It ended up being too much trouble to bother to go to the only bank that would change them.

Accoding to cheat sheet: &quot;...June 30, 2002 is the last day for changing old currency to Euro at any bank. Thereafter: old currency can continue to be exchanged at national central banks and some specially designated banks....&quot;<BR><BR>I've got a dish of bills and coins - and somewhere I have a french franc (a 20, I think) with the petit prince on it .

I know American Express does NOT exchange outdated currency anymore-<BR>even had trouble turning in French Francs BEFORE the Euro came into power as there were people passing &quot;fakes&quot; around....