What to do with your low denomination euro coins in France

The move towards more modern payment methods in France such as contactless bank cards and via smart phones is continuing, reducing the use of cash purchases. 

Around 43% of payments in 2024 were made using physical cash in France. 

However, while most consumers are happy to use bills to pay for goods, the small change they receive (known as pièces jaunes and pièces rouges depending on value) can sometimes be an annoyance, with rising prices meaning the coins are becoming less relevant and more difficult to use. 

The European Commission is considering ending the circulation of small coins in the Eurozone, although is yet to make a decision. 

Some countries such as Belgium and the Republic of Ireland round up cash purchases to the nearest 5 cents, effectively starting the phase out of 1 and 2 cent coins.

If you have found yourself accumulating a hoard of coins and are unsure what to do with them, they still have several uses: 

Check coins beforehand 

Before doing anything with your coins you might want to check to see if any of them are rare. 

Each year, new Eurozone coins are minted, with countries in the Eurozone choosing the design. 

While in some cases millions are minted to enter circulation, some variants are rare and those with a mintage error can sell for multiples of their face value to a collector.

While higher collector prices are more common for €1 and €2 pieces, several smaller coins are also rare.

Apps such as coindetect can recognise a coin from a picture taken on your phone and provide information on it.

Coin exchangers 

Probably the easiest way to exchange old coins is using a coin exchange machine. 

Several supermarkets, including certain Intermarché, Super U, and Auchan branches, have these machines. 

However you are usually given a voucher of in-store credit to use for a future shop. 

Expect a fee to be payable if using a coin exchange machine. 

Go to the bank

Alternatively, you can (sometimes) count the money yourself and take it to your bank. 

Each bank has a different rule in France, but several such as Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, and La Banque Postale accept deposits of spare change.

However, whether the coins are handed over in special small-coin bags, in rolls, or through other methods remains up to the bank to choose. 

Check with your local branch before taking your coins. 

The benefit of depositing small change with your bank is that you get to keep the full amount (no cut is taken unlike with coin exchange machines) which will be credited to your account. 

Spend the coins 

Despite the rising cost of goods, using coins to pay for items is still of course acceptable and coins of all denominations remain legal tender (provided they are not damaged). 

You can pay for items with coins up to a maximum value of €1,000 in France, and shopkeepers are obliged to accept undamaged coins. 

However, the Banque de France states that shopkeepers also have the right to refuse payment in coins if more than 50 are being used for a single transaction, making it difficult to use the smallest, 1 and 2 cents. 

An alternative is to use them in shops such as bakeries that have coin changers (monnayeurs) installed. 

These machines, many of which were installed in the Covid-19 pandemic, automatically count the money for you when paying for an item, and if you put in more than the required amount, provide change. 

It means you can just put your smaller coins in to pay for your next baguette without worrying about annoying a shopkeeper or missing out by overspending – just make sure the bakery has such a machine before turning up with your bags. 

Donating them 

You can also donate your coins to charity. 

The Pièces Jaunes campaign, usually run at the start of the year, encourages people to hand over their old small change, which goes towards helping children and teenagers who are hospitalised in France. 

Collection boxes are placed across the country to collect the coins, such as in La Poste offices or in high street shops.