What to do with extra coins from traveling abroad?
 

I have leftover coins from various countries in Asia, Europe, Peru, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions where I might send them? They are small coins, not worth hardly anything. I can't toss them & don't need to keep them & would love to forward them to????? Thanks!

I love to share my coins with children I know. It is an educational experience to show them the map, tell them about the country or some stories related to my travel and give them some coins to help them start a coin collection.

Instead of buying souvenirs, I actually try to save some clean, shiny coins just for this purpose.

Also before leaving the country, I try to spend as much change as I can at the airport to buy some extra postcards or maybe candy.

Would love to hear what others have to say about sending coins somewhere.

Qantas have a system whereby they collect coins from passengers and hand them on to UNICEF.
This apparently results in quite a substantial sum of money being raised.
They have special collection envelopes in the headset bags - guess this is not of use to those flying Qantas - but maybe some other airline or UNICEF locally can help?

Most airports now have places where you can "dispose" of your unwanted foreign change. It goes to children's charities in that country.

PLEASE donate them to the UNICEF fund. You can actually mail the money to them.

Many airlines partner with UNICEF in the Change for Good program. If you are flying soon with any of the partner airlines, you can bring all those coins with you and give them to the flight attendant.
http://www.unicef.org/corporate_part...dex_25030.html

Also, I know several American Airlines' Admirals Clubs have a collection box for Change for Good. Even if you are not a member, you can enter the Club and just deposit your change there. Here's the list of clubs:
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...nicef/main.jsp

If you click on the 2nd link, there's also an address where you can mail in the change to UNICEF. At the bottom of the page, it shows even small change can make a difference.

UNICEF it is - thanks everyone!

For others, to avoid this situation... watch as you are leaving any country. I have universally found some kind of donation box that I can drop any extra coins into before going home.

I save mine in envelopes and have used them on return trips but what I really love is to pass them on to anyone traveling to the spots I've been, even if it's just for candy at the airport or something modest. I keep one or two in my wallet and it cheers me up when I'm slogging through a hot NJ summer or miserably cold winter!