If you’ve ended up with Canadian coins in the United States, you have several practical options for putting them to use, from exchanging them at a bank to donating them or checking whether any are worth more than face value. Canadian coins frequently slip into U.S. circulation because they’re similar in size and color to their American counterparts, and most U.S. vending machines and coin-counting kiosks won’t accept them.
Why Most Coin Machines Won’t Help
Coinstar kiosks in the U.S. do not exchange foreign currency, so feeding your Canadian coins into one at the grocery store isn’t an option. Most self-checkout machines and vending machines reject them too, since they’re calibrated to detect U.S. coins by weight and electromagnetic signature. That rules out the easiest disposal methods and means you’ll need a slightly more deliberate approach.
Exchange Them at a Bank or Credit Union
If you have a meaningful amount of Canadian coins, your simplest path is exchanging them for U.S. dollars. Some U.S. banks and credit unions will accept Canadian coins from account holders, though policies vary widely by institution. Call ahead before making the trip, because many branches only handle foreign paper currency and won’t process coins at all.
Canadian banks are the most reliable option. If you live near the border or travel to Canada periodically, depositing the coins into a Canadian bank account or exchanging them at a currency counter there is straightforward. You can also hold onto them for your next trip north and spend them directly.
Currency exchange services at airports and in major cities generally deal in bills rather than coins, so they’re unlikely to help with a pocketful of loonies and toonies. Online currency exchange platforms similarly focus on paper money.
Spend Them on Your Next Trip
The most painless solution is simply saving your Canadian coins for the next time you’re in Canada. A small jar or envelope in a drawer costs you nothing, and you avoid any exchange fees. Canadian coins remain legal tender indefinitely, so there’s no rush. Even older designs circulate freely alongside newer ones.
If you don’t foresee a Canada trip, consider passing the coins along to a friend, coworker, or family member who travels there regularly. Most people are happy to take them off your hands at face value.
Donate Them to Charity
Several charitable programs specifically collect foreign coins. Air Canada’s Every Bit Counts program, run through the Air Canada Foundation, accepts loose change in any currency. Passengers can donate through envelopes available on board Air Canada flights and in Maple Leaf Lounges, and as of 2024, direct online donations are also accepted.
UNICEF’s Change for Good program, partnered with various international airlines, similarly collects foreign coins and bills from travelers. Some airports also have donation bins near customs or baggage claim areas designed for leftover foreign currency. These programs turn coins that would otherwise sit in a drawer into funding for children’s health and education programs worldwide.
Check Whether Any Are Collectible
Before you dump your Canadian coins into a donation bin, it’s worth a quick look through them. Most modern Canadian circulation coins are worth only their face value, but certain dates, mint errors, and older compositions can be worth significantly more to collectors.
A few things to look for:
- Silver content. Canadian dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted before 1968 contain silver (80% silver through 1966, 50% silver in 1967 and some 1968 issues). Even common-date silver coins are worth several times their face value based on metal content alone.
- Older large cents. Canada minted large cents from 1858 to 1920. These are uncommon in circulation today and carry numismatic premiums.
- Silver dollars. Canadian silver dollars from 1935 through 1967 are collectible. Key dates like the 1935 (the first year of issue) and the 1949 Newfoundland commemorative trade well above face value in good condition.
- Mint errors. Doubled dies, off-center strikes, and blundered lettering can make otherwise ordinary coins valuable. The 1858 Province of Canada 10-cent piece with a blundered “I” is a classic example from early Canadian coinage.
- Low-mintage commemoratives. Canada regularly issues commemorative quarters and dollars with limited production runs. Some are worth a few dollars each to collectors.
If you find something that looks unusual, search the coin’s date, denomination, and any distinguishing features on a numismatic pricing site like Greysheet or Numista. Local coin shops will also appraise individual pieces, typically at no charge.
Sell Them in Bulk Online
If you’ve accumulated a large quantity of Canadian coins, whether from travel, a tip jar, or a coin collection you inherited, you can sell them in bulk. eBay, Reddit’s coin-collecting communities, and Facebook Marketplace all have active buyers for Canadian currency. Lots of mixed Canadian coins typically sell at a modest discount to face value, but silver coins or older pieces can fetch a premium.
For small amounts (a handful of quarters and dimes), the effort of listing and shipping usually isn’t worth it. But if you’re sitting on a jar of $20 or more in Canadian change, a bulk listing can turn dead currency into spendable cash without leaving your house.