UK airports and old £1 coins?

whisky_galore

Hi, I'm due to change flights at Stansted and was wondering if any outlets will still accept the older £1 coins or will the foreign currency place exchange them as there aren't any banks there.

Thanks.

schemingbohemia

Probably only option really is to use it in a vending machine

coylemj

Most Bureau du Change places deal in notes only, they won't accept coins. Try spending them or see if the airport shops will exchange them for new coins or BoE notes. The bigger shops like Dixons/PC World will probably turn their noses up at you, try the smaller places like coffee shops first, failing that the duty-free checkouts who I'm sure will be offered them for the next several years.

Back in about 2010 I saw some poor sod trying to buy a pint of Guinness in Dublin airport with a 5 punt note!

fdevine

As I understand it, from Monday 15th October, the old (round) £1 coins will cease to be legal tender and businesses are not obliged to accept them although some might still take them. Also seems that lots of vending machines still need to be switched over. Whatever you can't spend, donate.

https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2017/1009/910833-round-pound/

http://www.theweek.co.uk/88807/old-1-coins-confusion-reigns-as-deadline-passes-but-round-pounds-continue-to-be-accepted

coylemj

Banks will accept them in lodgements from businesses for some time to come so I'd say they will take them in shops for a while yet.

The UK has a history of hanging on to a favourite old coin, well after it ceased to be legal tender....

When the UK and Ireland decimalised the old 'pounds shillings and pence' currency in 1971, they held on to the old 'tanner' (sixpence piece or '6d') in the UK for quite a while. It was worth exactly 2 1/2p in decimal currency and people had no problem accepting them as part of their change with the new coins. But it was a very slim coin so they eventually fell down sofas and drains and disappeared.

whomitconcerns

coylemj wrote: »

Banks will accept them in lodgements from businesses for some time to come so I'd say they will take them in shops for a while yet.

Since last week you cant spend the old pound coins anywhere. Bring them to a bank they will change them. No shops will take them at all.

coylemj

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Since last week you cant spend the old pound coins anywhere. Bring them to a bank they will change them. No shops will take them at all.

Poundland will take them until the end of October - need any batteries or mousetraps?

http://www.poundland.co.uk/press-release/poundland-first-retailer-to-announce-it-will-accept-old-pound-coins-after-deadline/

The Guardian reports that Aldi and Iceland have said the same.

whomitconcerns

coylemj wrote: »

Poundland will take them until the end of October - need any batteries or mousetraps?

http://www.poundland.co.uk/press-release/poundland-first-retailer-to-announce-it-will-accept-old-pound-coins-after-deadline/

The Guardian reports that Aldi and Iceland have said the same.

I stand corrected...I wonder though since the "law" says they are no longer accepted, I presume that they are accepting them as "tokens" rather than fiat currency..anyway thats for a different forum i guess...

coylemj

whomitconcerns wrote: »

I stand corrected...I wonder though since the "law" says they are no longer accepted, I presume that they are accepting them as "tokens" rather than fiat currency..anyway thats for a different forum i guess...

The law says that you are not obliged to accept them as payment for a debt but businesses can accept whatever they choose to.

Don't forget that the Irish Central Bank will still exchange punts and even pre-decimal coins and notes for Euros so there's nothing to stop an Irish business from accepting old money going back to farthings (one quarter of an old penny) issued by 'Saorstat Eireann' in 1928. The Bank of England does the same but for notes only.