21 tips to complete your Great One Pound Coin Race

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The Race is on… 

You’ve only got until 15 October to find all 24 circulating £1 coin designs.  And after the new 12-sided £1 Coin is released on 28 March, it will get harder as banks start to replace the £1 coins they receive with the new 12-sided £1 coin.

So that’s why we’ve put our heads together to give you 21 Top Tips to complete your Great One Pound Coin Race in time.

  1. Check your change drawer / change pot
  2. Ask friends and family
  3. Go to the bank and change notes to £1 coins
  4. Swap with the Change Checker web app – changechecker.org
  5. Befriend the local corner shop / launderette owner and ask them for their £1 coins
  6. Arcade / bingo change machines
  7. Pay with a note and round up with loose change to maximise your £1 coin change
  8. Look for Facebook swap groups
  9. Raid your children’s piggy banks (and replace them with notes!)
  10. Look for abandoned supermarket trolleysunknown-4
  11. Check down the back of the sofa
  12. Check old handbags
  13. Set up a lottery syndicate and collect the payments in round £1 coins
  14. Have a bake sale – everything a round £1 coin
  15. Offer to count up any collections and swap out the £1 coins for notes
  16. Car boot sale – everything is “One Round Pound”
  17. Pay car park charges in notes and receive the change in coins
  18. Check any tips your friends might be leaving at restaurants
  19. Always carry some £1 coins with you so you can swap any time you see a good one
  20. Check gym lockers
  21. Try to build a collection as a group – e.g. a school class – 30 Change Checkers are better than 1!

Win a Gold-plated Participant’s Medal

 

Do you have any more tips?

We’ll be giving away some special 24-Carat Gold Plated Great One Pound Coin Participant’s Medals to the best ideas.  Simply comment below with your top tip.

 

How to enter the Great One Pound Coin Race

If you haven’t started your Great One Pound Coin Race yet, it’s not too late.  Simply click here to enter today and you too could own a complete collection of £1 coins direct from your change before they’re gone for ever.

184 Comments

  1. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Protest against the royal mint destroying rare coins and get them to sell them on their site.



    • Fabriciano on March 9, 2017 at 8:53 am

      Lmao! I would blame them for trying to finding the coins that I need on eBay for over 20 quid each!! I nearly bought them for like two pounds each! But thanks to them I cannot afford them…



  2. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:47 pm

    At the end of market day ask the vendors for their £1 coins . They normally have 100s at the end of the day.



  3. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:45 pm

    Ask fellow car booters if you can change up their days takings.



  4. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    Ask your teacher to look out for your missing coins on Non school uniform day where everyone brings £1



  5. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    Ask friends and family who work in shops and pubs etc to keep an eye out for you.



  6. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:33 pm

    Watch out for people winning on fruit machines and offer to change up the coins for them.



  7. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Leave a note and a list of coins needed at your local shop and as they find them they can change them for you.



  8. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    Do a sponsored event for charity and change the coins for notes. I.e. NO TV for 1 day . NO games console for 1 day. NO chocolate. NO smoking etc



  9. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:47 pm

    Offer to change up your neighbours/ friends / family piggy bank for notes to save them a trip to the bank.



  10. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Do a raffle with all your unwanted items . 1 round pound for 5 tickets



  11. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Offer to weed neighbours gardens for 1 round pound ( summer is coming and people want there gardens in order )



  12. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Do face painting for 1 round pound per face



  13. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    Make crafts items and sell them for £1



  14. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    Ask your family for your birthday money to be in £1 coins.



  15. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Check your pump filter of your washing machine. The older the machine the more chance the older the coin.



  16. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    Check under the fluff filter in your tumble dryer as they come out of your pockets and slip past the filter. I find loads while stripping the machines.



  17. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    When getting change at a shop just ask if they have any special £1 coins in the till. I do it all the time for 50p’s



  18. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:26 pm

    Start a local £1 swap table at your school / youth center / village hall / community center / charity venue . People can swap £1 for £1 can also work for 50p’s too



  19. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    Have a weekend car wash at your home for round pounds.



  20. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    List your wanted coins on facebook selling sites and offer a reward of a £2 coin for ever £1 coin found. Everyone in the world is willing to double there money.



  21. Lee windell on March 8, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    Gather up all your old junk / clothes and sell on facebook selling sites for 1 round pound per item.



  22. Helen Bate on March 5, 2017 at 1:39 am

    Ask buskers if you can swap their pound coins for notes or other change.



    • Yasmin Britton on March 6, 2017 at 10:39 am

      Hi Helen, great suggestion! Please private message us on Facebook, Twitter or [email protected] for you address and I’ll get a Gold-Plated Participant’s Medal sent out for you!



  23. Fabriciano on March 3, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Unfortunately no… Only have Belfast available unfortunately… I need the other 3…. Sorry…



  24. Gary Bradshaw on March 3, 2017 at 5:37 am

    Use as much loose change as possible to over pay at vending machines, they should round up your change. This is good for 50p’s also



  25. Tricia on March 2, 2017 at 5:52 pm

    Buy a train ticket from self service, pay by notes and the change is mainly £1 coins, got 2 cities Cardiff, and London and the royal shield today using this method.



  26. Karen on March 2, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Does any one have a spare Edinburgh city to swap, and what would you want for it.



  27. Laura page on March 2, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Asking for your change in pound coins
    Or
    Using the self serve tills and paying for a small item so can keep getting change back

    Doing post office and bank runs. Ordering large amounts of coins or even a small amount from the post office .
    Anytime can just go in and ask for say £40-100 in pound coins before the end of march be best though



  28. Laura page on March 2, 2017 at 8:47 am

    Fastest way for me eBay. Done in a few weeks. In the buy it now section rather then the auction section. It’s much cheaper at the moment.

    eBay and Facebook groups
    Buying and swapping.



  29. Patrick on March 1, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    I personally get down to my local amusements and change hundreds of pounds ?



  30. Frances on March 1, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    Hi. ..i use girlie nights to help me find coins,,,i go to bingo twice a week,i get pouns coins in my change and they will swop a 20pound paper notes and give me a bag of coins to that amount and you can request more than one bag. i have found a lot of my coins that way.also pub lunches are a good way too



  31. Fabriciano on March 1, 2017 at 11:25 am

    I am 3 cities from completing it… Need Cardiff, London and Edinburgh… Wish I had that luck! X)



  32. Sara Hampson on March 1, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Perhaps if you live in area where theres an arcade change your note in the machine for one pound coins. You never know



  33. Rachael mason on March 1, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Too tips I use:
    Got very friendly with the counter staff in my local Santander bank and they look out for coins for me.
    Our local swimming pool and gym has £1 lockers. I often check them out in case people have forgotten to take there £1 out … have got 3 coins I needed from doing this as well as making a few £ every now and again. Can only do this trick if there is no one else in the changing room.
    My favourite … the vending machine (check it issues change first). Put a £1 in then cancel the sale … have had plenty special 50p from this trick.
    I’m short of the cities… need x2 London and X1 Edinburgh. Got plenty Belfast 🙁



  34. STUART on February 28, 2017 at 11:35 am

    Looks like iv finished my set and almost got two set loads left over ,ive been collecting pound coins for ages got about 1000



  35. David on February 28, 2017 at 6:44 am

    Metal detecting on beaches and parks
    But always get permission for the park.



  36. Jane on February 27, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    I check my till at work and then all my colleagues till and always carry a note on me to exchange the coins



  37. Julia Evans on February 27, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    Get Mummy to go down the bank and change £100 of my pocket money into pound coins!!



  38. Michael kosowycz on February 27, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    I have a tip for collecting change , it is getting cashback at a supermarket all in £1 coins.



  39. Shaun leaver on February 27, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    Bake some cakes with your kids and call it
    The round pound cake bake sale.



  40. Debbie Poulton on February 27, 2017 at 11:13 am

    When I go to work and pay for the car park, I use a £20 note each time, and get 15 £1 in change.



  41. Fabriciano on February 27, 2017 at 10:50 am

    Maybe you could help me complete my collection? Am 5 designs away of completing my pound coin collection! Apart from new pound coin and last round pound coin as it needs to be bought online.



  42. Steven young on February 26, 2017 at 8:51 am

    A Good tip I found is to go to the high street or seaside town where there’s
    Plenty of maned kiosks and keep changing notes up, just don’t get caught up useing in the machines!!
    Good luck All



  43. Guernseyboy on February 25, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    Any one need guernsey pound coin dated 2001 2003. Before taken out 15 October 2017



  44. Martin howarth on February 25, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Ive asked a cuple of taxi drivers to save me all of there pond couns for me to check frow first before they take them 2 the bank…….???



  45. Cally george on February 25, 2017 at 6:52 am

    I’ve only got to get the new 12 sided pound to complete my set. It helps that I work in retail so check the tills when I start then check the change customers give me and swap it over.



  46. jeffrey batchelor on February 24, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    i there I am a person how collects the money at car boot sales and at the end of the day have to count it up so I get the chance to sort them out for the ones I need



  47. Kevin mceneaney on February 24, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Ask big issue sellers to swap all there £1 coins for notes there be glad to get rid of the change. ( buy big issue off them also ?)



  48. Fabriciano on February 24, 2017 at 11:19 am

    All capital cities except belfast, the pound coin with the small shield ( can’t remember the names, lol ) and a few flowers. Am down to six designs to collect at the moment.



  49. Heather Hornshaw on February 24, 2017 at 9:11 am

    You could do The Great Coin Games where all of the events include coins in circulation In England right now. To get in everyone has to pay with a one pound coin and then different events will happen, including the 10p egg and spoon race, where lots on 10p are stacked on a spoon and then it’s just like an egg and spoons race. Also you could play a child friendly darts where children throw coins onto a dart looking board on the floor. The person with the highest score at the end wins. The winner could win a bag of chocolate coins. These games would be good for young children but if you also had enough people the help you, you could put on a small cafe where people can buy drinks all for one round pound. This would be good to raise lots of more money for charity but also sneak a few pound coins out that you still need for your colllection!



  50. Edward leaver on February 24, 2017 at 8:22 am

    Only need Edinburgh city to complete, have a spare London city



    • Fabriciano on February 24, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I need the other three I seen to only find Belfast coins…



    • Jane on February 27, 2017 at 7:15 pm

      Think I might have a spare Edinburgh I will check and swap for the London if you still have it



      • Becca7 on March 2, 2017 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Jane, if you have another spare Edinburgh it’s the only one I need too. I might have a spare London, I can check if you would like it. Are there any others you need?



      • Michael Frost on March 2, 2017 at 3:59 pm

        Edinburgh selling for rediculous prices on ebay



  51. Jay on February 24, 2017 at 3:29 am

    If you’re a singer , dancer ,poet , musician or a magician then why not busk to find those great round one pound coins . You can even travel to different destinations and a train journey is a good way to travel along with this you can get change from the ticket machines yet again another chance from the change out of machines.



  52. Adam Jones on February 24, 2017 at 2:32 am

    Hand out charity buckets to shops and swap the coins you need from them then give to charity, helping you collection whilst helping others!



  53. Tony Chopping on February 23, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    How to get loads of £1 coins. If your holding an event soon (charity, school, funday etc.) do a competition where people have to put a £1 coin in a bucket, each £1 coin has a sticker stuck on it with a number, this is recordered on a sheet with the name and telephone number of the person. At the end of the event one £1 coin is selected at random to win a prize. I have done this myself before and raised £200-£300 in £1 coins.



  54. Paul Conway on February 23, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    If you have a birthday coming up, ask for a bag of one pound coins as a gift rather than a voucher etc.



  55. Isobel Gallacher on February 22, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    I have 1Scotland :Thistle and Bluebell 2014. 4 Dragon Passant 2000. 2 England Oak Tree 1992.2 Wales Leek 1 is1995 and other is 1990 got more but don’t think they look as if they are high on the agenda if anyone is interested .



    • Phillip Spencer on February 23, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Hi Isobel. My name is Phil and I am interested in your Scotish thistle and blue bell as I have the other three., or I can call you if you issue me with your contact number or yoy can call me on mine 07919927444. Looking forward to hearing from you.



  56. Simona Stroescu on February 21, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    Always pay for basic groceries (bread, milk) with bank notes instead of debit/credit card. Ask at the till to give you change in £1 coins, the bigger the bank note the more coins you get!



  57. Marie ann mackie on February 21, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Swap a £20 note for a bag of pounds at your bank or post office
    Get family and friends to keep a look out for the pounds you need
    Swap using change checker



  58. Mark on February 21, 2017 at 11:29 am

    Take a few notes to the bank and ask them to change it for £1 coins.



  59. Julie on February 20, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    Befriend a bank cashier (Better still, get a job in a bank!!)



  60. Karen Thompson on February 20, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    Ask your local brownie or youth group to swap their sub money for notes. Some collect subs each week and the leaders would love the coins swapped for notes.



  61. terry roe on February 20, 2017 at 10:59 am

    Got1988 young head 2001 old head same castle that makes 25 not 24is ther more



  62. terry roe on February 20, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Got all 24 a lot of swap



    • Fabriciano on February 20, 2017 at 12:04 pm

      Am 6 designs away from completing my collection… Would be amazing if you could help… XD



      • Becca7 on March 2, 2017 at 2:38 pm

        You don’t happen to have the Edinburgh crest do you? I think it’s the only one I need…



    • Karen on March 2, 2017 at 9:51 am

      would you have a spare Edinburgh city, what would you need for it ?



  63. Tim on February 19, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Have found one that’s not on list
    It’s a castle with one pound written at the top with no country badges at the.
    Bottom



    • tamzi on February 20, 2017 at 11:00 am

      Its a gibraltor pound coin its not legal tender in uk but we still get the odd few through they can be exchanged in banks there are a few other designs in this currency too.



      • Fabriciano on February 20, 2017 at 11:28 am

        I’ve got the one with the skull yesterday! Still added it to my collection! XD



  64. Semra Whalley on February 18, 2017 at 9:33 am

    Raise money for local charities by doing raffles at school fairs, £1 a strip. Replace the pound coins for notes.



  65. Luke samuel antony on February 18, 2017 at 7:54 am

    (I messaged on facebook directly because didnt see this page) but I had a brilliant idea (i think it is)
    So heres my top tip:
    Hosting a coinage night with your family and friends,its a great get together and you have the potential to swap coins with yoir friends amd family have a laugh amd good catch up too and help each other complete one anothers collection! Useful for all collevtion and also the #onepoundrace



  66. Jennifer huntingdon on February 18, 2017 at 4:11 am

    If you do have moneyboxes change jars that you leave for ages saving for that speciak occasion or maybe a yearly one for christmas.Count out all the change not just your £ coins. Then take to bank,post office or friendly local shop and change it for £ coins. Those 1p 2p 5p 20p soon mount up so get counting and get it changed. ???



  67. Michael eustace on February 17, 2017 at 2:16 am

    Also go to guernsey to get ya rare 2001 2003 local £1 coins guernsey plus duty free condor ferries



  68. Michael eustace on February 17, 2017 at 2:12 am

    Wait outside the royal mint and wait for the Lorry G 4s full of old pound coins being returned to the mint and ask driver to Cheak all the coins lol



  69. Fabriciano on February 16, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    1 Open your change checker app

    2 Do a print screen

    3 share it by email/private message/print out/ Facebook post with friends and family!



  70. tammy on February 16, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Ask cashier if you can change in pounds instead of note I just got 4 new designs in one lot change only 10 to get now ?



  71. tammy on February 16, 2017 at 12:15 pm

    I Work in retail and i ask cash office to swap notes for £1 change endless supply there that’s what I’m doing ?



  72. Mimi on February 16, 2017 at 10:53 am

    Help at community fundraising events, and then check all the pound coins that are collected / raised



  73. Kamil Kuzma on February 15, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    Change notes to £1 coins at the post office. They always have loads of 1 pounds and they even have them ready in plastic bags. 10 1 pounds bag. 20 1 pound bags. I don’t even know why ;D



  74. Duncan Sproston on February 15, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    2 great tips ive been using. Some car parks dont give u notes as change so if you pay with a twenty your bound to get loads of pound coins to check, also arcades that have notes to pound coins change machines are a good way to get loads of pounds aswell.



  75. Tricia on February 15, 2017 at 10:46 am

    Ask the vicar if you can help to sort out the change in the collection plates at church, and offer a small donation in return. Win win for everyone



  76. Salim Mughal on February 14, 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Go to Laundry Shops most owner are more then happy to give you £1 for notes.
    Saves them going to the Bank…
    That has done the job for me to have more the one Full Set £1 coins:)



  77. Elizabeth Bannerman on February 14, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Make cookies and cakes and sell a plate for £1 and give the ones you already have to charity.



  78. Darren Stevenson on February 14, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Use public transport and pay with a note we’ve always got some change and more than happy to help, well most of us as we often collect coins of interest too, my collection is coming on well



  79. Colin Thornton on February 13, 2017 at 5:12 pm

    I was on a recent fishing match and checked all the coins that was in the pools money before paying out to the winner, also I went into my local post office changed £10 into pound coins checked them before purchasing my items.



  80. Barry Wilshaw on February 13, 2017 at 1:50 pm

    I ask at as many shops as possible to keep a look out for coins, I have every 50p coin every £1 coin except Cardiff And every £2 coin



  81. Maria Dyer on February 12, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    Go to a bank get £250 in pound coin go throw them then take them to a bank that has coin counting machine get notes then change them back in to pound coin at another bank also I ask in asda etc if they have any I haven’t got in there till lol



  82. Mike Morrish on February 12, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Ask the bus drivers if they can change a £10 or £20 note 4 £1 coins.



  83. Martin on February 12, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    ask pub landlord to keep an eye out for coins you are missing.



  84. john 55 on February 12, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    if you are male check your wife,s purse



    • 6 the grove, Hodnet, Shropshire tf93nt on February 24, 2017 at 8:55 am

      ………or if you are female check your partners pockets!



  85. David prosser on February 12, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Have to say another idea I have been doing this week end is visiting pound land where I have actually managed to complete nearly all my £1 collection of the race from changing large amounts of coins for notes…. also thanks to my man Adam Thomas who was lucky enough to win a one pound race coin last week… so one ahead of me there 🙂 but so kindly bought 2 of the very last £1 coins from Westminster online which won’t be circulated to finish our collection, so thats another idea to complete the collection. What a good friend 🙂



  86. paul turner on February 12, 2017 at 11:41 am

    get a dog and sit outside a bank and place your hat on the ground…… may be you will get loads of different rare coins



  87. Danny on February 12, 2017 at 4:28 am

    Firstly let me say what an amazing job you guys have done in bringing us coin collectors together and even creating new enthusiastic collectors too. I love the change checker app, I’ve been collecting and using it for some time now and have met lots of fantastic swappers through it. I have met plenty of new swappers in need of help starting up and have put together a number of tips to help them find coins and also swap. I am happy to share my tips and tricks so as to continue to help out, here they are:

    Finding coins:

    Try going to the bank and taking as much as you can afford out in £1’s or other denominations you need, search through them then take back the ones you don’t need? I have found some real gems this way. I went to 6 banks in one day at the beginning of one month. I took my entire wages out in 50p’s, £1’s and £2’s from the first bank searched through them, took back what I didn’t want and payed them into the second bank and repeated the process twice more! This process is great particularly when you have lots of banks in your city or have multiple bank accounts at various banks. It can be a great way to find some of the older and possibly rarer coins. The only downside is it can be quite time consuming.
    The Post office can be quite good for new coins at times too. I get them to check for me whenever I post something. If I have more than one item to send I may just post each item at a different post office and get each one to check the coins for me! I don’t usually do that well from the post office myself but have spoken to alot of people who do and even say they have had bags full of new coins from their post offices. I guess it depends on how busy and friendly the staff are and probably the time you go in may factor in.

    I always ask in every shop I go in whatever type of shop it is if they have any coins in there till and if they can check them for me. Most of the time people are great about it and will happily check for me. I have found customer service desks at big supermarkets can be good if they aren’t to busy. Another place to check that I haven’t explored much would be pubs some people tell me they do very well in their locals.

    Around the time the Olympic 50p’s first started coming out which was during a time when I was getting lots of buses across different parts of the city almost each day for work I would pop into about 10-15 different betting shops weekly and get them to check and save coins for me. This proved very lucrative, most of them where fantastic, happy to help. Some workers even got competative with each other as to who could find me the most coins, I never even placed a bet! I must admit to having a bit of an addiction, I just can’t stop collecting the Olympic 50p’s, once I finish a collection I need to start another one!

    Another good way to find coins is to get all your friends and family involved and get them hunting for you. Print them a wanted poster out with pictures of the coins you need on. Encourage them to get there friends and family to search for you too. Tell them to look everywhere and anywhere including in savings jars, there can be some cracking finds in those. Also try and make as many friends as you can with Retail and Bank jobs who can sit there all day long searching through change for you!

    My last tip would be to pull off the greatest bank job of all time. Breaking into the bank and take all of their change to sort through, I wouldn’t recomend this one though!

    Swapping Coins:

    When swapping coins with people on Change Checker you will find most of the swappers are great and are happy to help and swap fairly. But be careful there are the odd few I have found that try to con you out of your coins and never actually send you their coins at all. Some just stop replying to you when you question them. Others may try to tell you they did send coins but forget to get the proof of postage and it must have got lost but usually then stop contact too. I usually find these people to seem a bit vague and take along time replying. They can sometimes be the ones who just send an address and say yes I will swap send me your address. Although it can occasionally be the person that seems very honest about things that might sting you, not just the people that seem a bit suspicious. It really is hard to tell sometimes that is why I usually follow a few rules I have set myself. Firstly I try to build a bit of rapour up with the person. I talk about the swap and their collection and coins in general, maybe ask questions like how they got into collecting and how long they have been collecting for. Once a swap has been agreed I find It is good to offer to send pics of the coins your offering and ask if they can send you pics of their coins too. Once you have agreed the swap and happy with the coins it is good to agree on packaging and postage arrangements. I usually send something like the message below to people:

    I usually hide coins inside cardboard by cutting coin size holes in the cardboard that tightly fit the coins. I then secure coins into the cardboard holes by putting paper over them and tapeing it down to the cardboard. It’s not good for the coins to tape them down directly, this can leave a horrible sticky residue on them. This is all so you can’t feel them in the envelope once the cardboard is inside and the envelope has been sealed and taped up. It also helps the security of the coins to prevent them going missing on the journey. It has happened before to me where I have not recieved packages at all or empty and opened envelopes have turned up. If you could do something similar to make sure they are secure that would be great. I also like to post second class and obtain proof of postage from the post office. We can send a picture of this to each other once we have sent. I hope this will all be ok with you?

    You can tailor this to how you like as may want to send first class or package slightly different. The main points here are to make sure the coins are secure and that proof of postage is obtained at the post office with the correct postage paid. After this has beed agreed it is just a case of swapping addresses. I usually take pics of the coins during packaging process and the envelope once it is all sealed up and then email that too. Usually if someone happily agrees to all this they will most likely be serious about swapping fairly.
    I hope you all find these tips useful, I’m always happy to help.



  88. Ollie on February 12, 2017 at 12:41 am

    I’ve recruited a network of people who work in Clubs & shops. Without them I’d be so much worse off for finding coins.



  89. Phillip Spencer on February 11, 2017 at 9:17 am

    It depends on what value you place on your collection. If you are as keen as I am, I am going to ask my neighbours to look at all their pound coins against a list I will provide. I will reward any coins with a small gift.. Should I be fortunate enough to win a medal , then it will compliment my collection.



  90. M Eardley on February 10, 2017 at 6:05 pm

    As I live in Gretna where people come to get married,I have found quite a few of the rarer £1/ £2/50p,coins in my change,absolutely love some of the designs. I think I have collected all the £1 coins,am now trying to collect the whole series of coins again,I am only two £1 coins from having two complete sets.So anywhere people congregate like weddings it seems to be the ideal place to collect most of them.



  91. Sinead on February 10, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    Take your bucket of 1p’s and 2p’s to your nearest post office or bank and get them changed into as many pound coins as possible.



  92. mark on February 10, 2017 at 9:29 am

    sit in the pub and wait for the person to come and empty the fruit machine .I have got all the pound coins I need and most of the two pound coins this way.(plus a couple of nice pints !!)



  93. Sue Walker on February 10, 2017 at 8:22 am

    I am only looking forca pound coin with Edinburgh on.



    • Fabriciano on February 13, 2017 at 9:21 am

      I have a spare Edinburgh one… You should find me through change checker app nickname Akronis. I am eight circulated coins away of completing my collection still…



      • Fabriciano on February 13, 2017 at 11:17 am

        Sorry! It was actually a Belfast one… My bad!



      • 6 the grove, Hodnet, Shropshire tf93nt on February 24, 2017 at 9:00 am

        What coins are you needing?



  94. ianwlauder on February 10, 2017 at 5:47 am

    put small change into drink/snack vending machines then press coin return some return in large coins eg 50p or £1 coins even got a Kew gardens 50p doing this



  95. tobyone on February 9, 2017 at 11:55 pm

    Get a £20 bag of one pound coins from your local POST OFFICE. As most of the bags that have either been paid in or received from the post office cash centre normally have a assorted set of coins in them.



  96. Martin Dove on February 9, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    Go to church every Sunday and root through the collection tray. Be careful that the vicar doesn’t see you pocketing any coins though! Please ensure that you put in more than you take out too.
    ???



  97. dianne reily on February 9, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    I am currently sat in my local gala bingo, sat with my great one pound coin race printed sheet, and keep changing over my notes for £1.00 coins, I have a photo of the coins I have collected so far tonight… printed off extra sheets for my family so we can all do together and swop our coins.??



  98. Nicola on February 9, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    Carboot sales are always a good place to get £1 coins as everything is usually priced at a £1 ?



  99. David prosser on February 9, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    What I do is in my free time when I’m not working is work for a takeaway. I save all my change especially the £1 coins and sift through every single one. Atcyhe end of the night and week of tips I’ve saved I collect every single one I don’t have and add it to my collection…. also arcades are a great place to…. get your crispy notes ready to change that jackpot 😉



  100. Max on February 9, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Using notes changing machines in bingo, arcades etc is a great idea.
    Last week I took out £100 in notes from my bank account and changed it all into coins at my local bingo club. Went through the coins, founds some great ones and then changed the coins back to notes… Found 10 new pounds coins that I didnt have.)))



  101. Daniel Smith on February 9, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Go to your local Post Office and ask! I work in one and regularly am looking for coins for people and keep them to one side



  102. Miss mandy Timmins on February 9, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Go to the bank and ask for £50 .00 in pound coins and check trough them .



  103. Christina coe on February 9, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Ask for loads of change at the bingo hall they always have pound coins



  104. James macfarlane on February 9, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Check under your bed! ?



  105. Barbara Cage on February 9, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Taxi drivers always have loads of pound coins



  106. Emma on February 9, 2017 at 2:19 am

    I always do a swap with my sandwich lady at work for all her loose coins to see what different coins she has.

    I also put Facebook status and enjoy the fact my friends and family help me with collecting all funny coins



  107. Janbozzi on February 8, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    In stead of withdrawing money from cash machines go in the bank and withdraw your money but ask it to be all £1 coins.



  108. James on February 8, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    Ask your family to look out for them too??



  109. MISS R SPICER on February 8, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    When your landlord comes around to empty the coin meter,swap the £1coins you put in the metre with notes.



    • kev wade on February 16, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Surely you’d know that you hadn’t put any rare ones in the meter in the first place!



  110. Rob on February 8, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    Keep a list of what you got and need on you at all times so you no what ones you can spend or exchange instead of holding onto them all



  111. matthew on February 8, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    Offer to go on a snack run for work colleagues as long as they pay in round pounds ?. Or chat up the till staff in local supermarket!



  112. Wendi balshaw on February 8, 2017 at 6:32 pm

    Check old coats jeans anything that has pockets ☺☺



  113. Matthew on February 8, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    Use change dispensers in arcades, put in a £20 not and get 20 pound coins! Easy and no interaction with anyone!



  114. Jamie Birkett on February 8, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    Make sure you’re the last one in your local pub and when it is just you and the landlord ask if you can check all the pound coins in the till it’s a win-win situation because if you don’t find any pound coins that you need you have spent longer in the pub ?



  115. Charlotte on February 8, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    If you go to school, college or work somewhere in which there is a cafeteria, ask if they can look out for unusual £1 designs when people pay or keep them back for you to look through.



  116. Michelle Selway on February 8, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    I always ask family and friends if I can check any loose change from their purses, they are a treasure trove of great of great finds, it has started many of my friends and family collecting as well so has turned out to be very competitive and nothing like a go brag when you get a rare beauty.



  117. Andy Hoskins on February 8, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Do a sponsored walk / event for a charity, make all donations £1 then swoop out for notes



  118. Bob Farmer on February 8, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    If you are buying more than one item at the likes of Poundland pay for one at a time with notes, not only do you get loads of pound coins but the look on the cashiers face is priceless ?



  119. Ross on February 8, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    Pay at a self service till with a twenty pound note if you have only bought something cheap. In major super markets you rarely get small change and normally get pound coins



  120. Cavan jenkins on February 8, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    If you put a £1 in a vending machine it will usually put it in a stack and if you do not purchase anything it will give you one from the bottom of the stack so you can effectively cycle them also works with other coins aswell it has been very productive for me 🙂 good luck all and hope all entrants complete the challenge.



  121. James Monnery on February 8, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    Set up a raffle for your favourite charity at £1 a ticket and then you can change up for notes, you get to collect and also help those in need. Everyone’s a winner!



  122. Paula Fisher on February 8, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Befriend a taxi driver and ask for a swap, have a stash of coins you don’t need ready though as they won’t appreciate losing all their change.



  123. Marcin on February 8, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Swap notes for coins with local post office 🙂



  124. Jon Sleeman on February 8, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Have a swear jar at work/home – one round pound per swear word!



  125. satwant Sodhi on February 8, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    If you know someone in a post office then this makes finding your coins very easy.



  126. mark on February 8, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    go to shops with 50p coins and 20p etc bc they often need them and ask in exchange for £1 coins, or ask shops if u can look through their tills



  127. Malcolm on February 8, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    I have already collected all the £1 coins and seeing that they are all in a circulated condition they will be worth no more than face value and not worth keeping.So I might just as well spend them or put to premium bonds and hope to win.



  128. Halfasixpence on February 8, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    Go out 7 Days a week and every Pint you have pay the Bar Person with a Note, You`ll get loads of change but you will be drunk so be careful not to loose it !!



  129. brian dignall on February 8, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    stand near coinstar (ask security)in supermarkets loads of old coins go into that also when they do sponsored bagpacking change the coins for notes giving them a donation for them helping you with your coin collection



  130. thriftflowers on February 8, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    Hold a charity fundraiser, and only accept round pounds as donations – then swap the coins for notes before giving the charity the money raised. 🙂 It’s a win-win!



  131. debbie rowley on February 8, 2017 at 1:00 pm

    change notes for coins at post offices also give a list of what you need to relatives who work in shops



  132. Adam Thomas on February 8, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Sit near the fruit machine/Bandit at your local pub…
    If anyone wins, offer them notes in exchange for their winnings!



    • Yasmin Britton on February 9, 2017 at 9:34 am

      Hi Adam, thanks for your tip! We want to send you a gold-plated medal as a prize so check your email!



  133. Janet Read on February 8, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    Look every where and also ask the nice people in ur local shops if u can check what they have in the till



  134. Daniel gosling on February 8, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    Rob a bank



  135. Lindsey xl on February 8, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    We sell eggs at the gate and get plenty of change in the honesty box. Also another idea is at horse or dog shows pay for your entries with cash and ask for the change in £1’s. They always have change! Vending machines are pretty good too for change and car park meters that do give you change.



  136. Sandra on February 8, 2017 at 12:07 pm

    Get a coin swapper team going in your local pub ask bar staff to look out for special coins



  137. Doug Annals on February 8, 2017 at 12:02 pm

    Can you supply a list / pictures of the different coins to collect



  138. Fabriciano on February 8, 2017 at 11:45 am

    Exchange all your unwanted pennies in a change checker machine available in some supermarkets… Exchange your voucher for cash, if you get enough notes you can also exchange them for £1 coins in stores Change machines! A lot of stores do have them!



  139. mark kelso on February 8, 2017 at 11:39 am

    Do you have a picture of all the 24 designs to check what we have so far?



    • Fabriciano on February 8, 2017 at 11:47 am

      You can check them with the change checker app! I have it in my phone!



  140. Richard Wells on February 8, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Why not ask your local bus drivers as they tend to get lots of £1 coins and they are sometimes more than willing to change them for notes



  141. Natalie petty on February 8, 2017 at 11:20 am

    Local Air training corps, bag packing at local supermarket to raise funds then ask supermarket to swop all coins into GOLD!



  142. Natalie petty on February 8, 2017 at 11:18 am

    Ask for your birthday money the old fashioned way…Coins…But gold ones of course



  143. Dave on February 8, 2017 at 11:17 am

    start charging your Granny a £1 coin every time you collect her newspaper and stop giving your Grandchildren pocket money when you see them, tell your family No more Birthday and Christmas presents and swap the money you would have spent for £1 coins at the Bank!!.. works for me …. what 2008 Lion 10p is that then?



  144. Michael on February 8, 2017 at 11:03 am

    Create a fun ‘Lost’ or ‘Wanted’ poster for your works information bored. This way a wider range of people will be looking and is a fun and novel way of looking for help 🙂



  145. Peter on February 8, 2017 at 11:02 am

    Swap notes for coins with local window cleaner,they hate loads of change



  146. Daniel on February 8, 2017 at 11:02 am

    I would ask people I knew, or businesses I had a good standing with to look out for the certain coins I’m missing. Either print out the ones I’m missing or explain what the design is.
    This would stop them from collecting lots of coins I already had, and stop me from having lots of change lying around.



  147. asnakeslife on February 8, 2017 at 11:00 am

    Exploit the power of Facebook, change your status to ‘£1 coin search’ pin the post so its always at the top of your feed. Ask everyone to notify you of finding any coins you’re searching for, post pics of the ones you need. Have loads of eyes searching for you at the same time.



  148. Paul Hunt on February 8, 2017 at 10:57 am

    If you work in a school volunteer to help count the money on non uniform day



  149. Malcolm edge on February 8, 2017 at 10:55 am

    Ask at the local churches for the vicar or his.her assistant to check the collection box for any one pound coins and exchange for notes.



  150. Dean Dewis on February 8, 2017 at 10:54 am

    I have a friend in the post office who keep her eyes on what coins are in there safe.Had a bag full of battle of hastings 50p and squirrel nutkin 50p.



  151. David on February 8, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Try at your local bank, they will have lots of £1 coins coming in and if you pick a quiet time the bank will help you find those missing coins……………..just be nice when you go into the branch………It works



  152. glo1963 on February 8, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Bingo halls are great for change mostly one pound coins?????



  153. Sue on February 8, 2017 at 10:31 am

    You normally pay to enter car boot sales,ask to check their coins in bucket.



  154. Laura page on February 8, 2017 at 10:30 am

    Sell old junk items for pound ranges



  155. Laura page on February 8, 2017 at 10:29 am

    If you put £1 coins in machine such has hot drinks etc then eject the money – most machines will give you a different coin back.



  156. Richard on February 8, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Use the self service in supermarkets and pay so you get pound coins, I have got a lot of rare ones that way.



  157. Anthony Baldwin on February 8, 2017 at 10:24 am

    I have sent a group email to the whole company asking for any £1 with the designs I need. Have had a great response and only need five to complete my collection.



  158. Alan Warner on February 8, 2017 at 6:15 am

    Valentines is just around the corner, why not hint that instead of a big bag of love you would prefer a big bag of £1 coins this year!



  159. Les Kent on February 7, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    If you live near ie an arcade go to the change machines
    and taxi drivers like to get rid of the heavy change.



  160. Anthony Taylor on February 7, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    We have been selling off items we no longer need in the house on eBay, and then going to the bank and withdrawing notes and changing all of the money into coins to maximise finding every coin we need.



  161. Tricia on February 7, 2017 at 5:12 pm

    Ask friends and family to give £1.00 coins for a birthday or other celebrations



  162. Russ on February 7, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Or you could do as I did and “volunteer” to help a family member sort and count a bucket full of loose change collected over a number of years. In just over £1000 of £1 coins, I pulled out one of every design and every year. As a bonus, I also found a Triathlon coin which was almost mint!! However, I still did not find one 2008 Lion 10p which I am still looking for!!!



    • Charlotte on February 8, 2017 at 7:53 pm

      Can you explain what the 10p is about please?



  163. Carli on February 7, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    Check tills where you work I do so collecting for my 5 year old son he loves coins