Did you end your trip with a pocketful of foreign coins? Unless you are a coin collector, foreign coins can be useless to you, and it is not a sustainable choice. But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll share 5 clever ways to use or exchange your leftover foreign coins before returning home.
Also Read: Do’s and Don’ts with Leftover Foreign Currency After Travel
Can You Exchange Foreign Coins in India?
No, foreign coins cannot be exchanged in India. Although the RBI does not prohibit this practice, banks and money changers generally refuse to accept foreign coins. This is due to challenges in handling and storing them, low demand, and potential risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations.
Best Ways to Use or Exchange Foreign Coins Before Returning to India
1. Spend Strategically on the Last Day
Use your coins for local transport such as bus or train tickets, purchasing coffee or snacks from vending machines or cafes, buying souvenirs from local street markets, getting airport snacks or bottled water, and providing tips for hotel staff or guides.
2. Exchange Coins at Airport Foreign Exchange Counters
Some foreign exchange counters or kiosks in international airports of cities such as Dubai, Singapore, and London allow small exchanges of coins for notes. If you are lucky, you can exchange the coins to get foreign notes that are acceptable in India. However, it is better not to exchange the coin for another foreign currency or even Indian Rupees as the exchange rate at airport kiosks can be poor.
4. Donate to Charity Boxes at Airports
Most major airports and airlines have donation boxes for UNICEF or local charities that accept coins. This is the kindest way of lightening your pockets.
5. Offer Change to People You Meet
The best way to exchange coins is to take a chance and ask other tourists, shopkeepers or residents you meet if they want to exchange a foreign note for an equivalent amount of coins; what if they might be short on change!
Also Read: Travelling Abroad? Don’t Bring Back These 10 Foreign Currencies
How to Exchange Foreign Currency Notes in India?
Once you have converted your foreign coins to currency notes, fly back to India, and ExTravelMoney is here back home with effortless currency exchange in 3 simple steps!
- Visit our website and let us know the foreign currency you want to sell.
- Our forex experts connect you with RBI-authorised currency exchange partners near you, offering top rates and minimal paperwork.
- After document verification, either visit the assigned store to exchange your currency or have Indian Rupees delivered straight to your doorstep.
Tips for Your Future International Trips
- Try not to accept too many coins while travelling, and request paper money when you can.
- Sort your coins and keep them separate for small purchases and exchange at the end of your trip.
- Use the coins frequently for grocery stores, metro tickets, and coffee shops rather than saving them up.
At ExTravelMoney, we believe every rupee and every cent counts, even in a different currency. Leftover coins may seem trivial, but when handled wisely, they can enhance the sustainability of your journey or even help someone else!
Also Read: How to Save on Currency Exchange – 7 Tips for Indian Travellers
Ann Mariya Job is the Associate Content Writer at ExTravelMoney.com. Holding a Bachelor’s in Journalism, she excels in creating deeply researched, engaging, and crisp content. Her work helps readers understand the complexities of foreign exchange, overseas money transfers, and international travel.