What does your bank do with foreign coins?

[GMan00001]

I've had a few occasions recently where I was at the bank and the teller came across a foreign coin for one reason or another (typically in the half dollar bag of the coin counting machine).

Sometimes they have just given them to me (yes the bank gave me free money).

I have received miscellaneous coins such as: $2 canadian coins, One peso mexican coins, as well as a few others.

I have had a few tellers at different banks tell me that they just throw the coins away, literally into the garbage can since they can't turn them in to the fed and they can't sell them to customers.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Has anyone asked their bank what they do with foreign coins? If so, what did you get told?

Basically, I am trying figure out if there is anyway to get ahold of the foreign coins cheaply because although they have no value to the bank, as a collector, I find some of the foreign coins interesting. Additionally, I am sure some of the coins actually do have value, such as older canadian dimes and quarters which were made of silver as well.

Any thoughts?

GMan

 

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[diverwannabe]

I guess thats just one more thing I am going to have to start asking for at the banks! Especially since theres the possibility of getting silver foreign coins

 

[Immy]

Want to hear what the casinos in Vegas do with 'em? (Hold onto something)

Whatever they can't sell (they have a company that buys them in bulk) they grind up! I wanted to cry when I heard this. I offered to buy any foreign coins that were going to the grinder in my casino but I'd have to replace whatever denomination slot machine they were found in, coin for coin. Example, sometimes people try to put large Mexican coins in dollar slots. If I wanted to rescue those I'd have to pony up a dollar for each! No thanks.

Here's a good idea regarding banks. Tell them you're starting up a small local coin club for kids and you'd like some foreign coins to give away to new members.