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Close-up: Carlos & Danny's Foreign Currency

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Any time we come back from a trip with foreign currency, we place it in a little woven container that grandma bought us in 1984, or so. We returned on Tuesday from a friend's wedding in Jamaica - our first time there. After emptying our pockets, we put the Jamaican coins in our little container (which we had totally forgotten was also from Jamaica), and started looking at all the currency we'd collected over time.

 
 

Then we thought of what other people might do with bits of money after returning home, and we immediately remembered Carlos & Danny's display in their wonderfully rich, bright kitchen.

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And here's my little way, a method I've stuck to for years:

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What do the rest of you do with leftover foreign currency?

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Comments (13)

Put the coins in a little dish too. And gave the paper to a friend going over for opening spending cash (taxis, metro, etc.)

posted by Lady J on 2007-05-03 15:14:17
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i only keep the coins and not paper money. the coins make for a great display. i haven't done it yet. but i wanted to post up a map on my wall and pin the coins to their corresponding countries.

posted by mei on 2007-05-03 15:27:15
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I get rid of extra foreign currency - I try to give it away to kids, but I'll give it to anyone who wants it. Otherwise it's just clutter.

posted by Anne in Chicago on 2007-05-03 15:34:05
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I don't have any foreign currency because I can't afford to go anywhere.

posted by SpaceMonkeyX on 2007-05-03 15:46:24
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Find a tall clear glass vase and fill it with the coins.

posted by jenalyn on 2007-05-03 15:55:45
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SpaceMonkeyX - would you like mine?

posted by Anne in Chicago on 2007-05-03 16:33:09
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Anne, I have a compromise for you - I'm willing to go to other countries in your stead and collect the currency you would otherwise be giving away. Let me know if that works for you...

posted by SpaceMonkeyX on 2007-05-03 16:43:16
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Sounds great, but only if I can sit at your desk and do your work while you're gone. Don't forget the camera!

posted by Anne in Chicago on 2007-05-03 17:11:39
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I usually use it to accidentally jam up commercial washing machines.

posted by stonelake on 2007-05-03 17:47:33
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My sixth grade social studies teacher used to give us foreign coins for answering certain questions correctly. My little sister is now a fifth grade teacher and I keep meaning to give her my stash so she can do the same thing. For now I just have them in plastic baggies.

posted by estasusana on 2007-05-03 23:13:57
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add it to the photo album with other images from the trip....

posted by k in ditmas on 2007-05-04 11:55:30
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I glue magnets to the back of the coins and use them on the fridge.

posted by lindadc on 2007-05-04 15:05:20
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Our local boutique grocery store has a huge transparent collection box for leftover foreign currency near the front door. It's quite an eye catching piece and when it starts to get full they donate all the cash to the local children's hospital.

The whole idea makes me happy. :)

posted by Brent Rockwood on 2007-05-06 00:47:14
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