Originally Posted by
phonestand
that was my experience as well.... I forgot the name of the bank, but it was a couple of minutes from the Paris Opera. I had probably 50 euro coins(1 or 2 euros). The lady looked at me and then at the coins... she started shaking her and said "NO"(in English). :
By the way, I think I have a bigger "problem" than I originally thought. Just finished counting the coins. Had no idea that the jar contained so many coins.
I have 476 euros in coins. (1 euro coins = 252... 2 euro coins = 112)
There were also around 30 one-pound British coins mixed in there somehow.
476 euro in 1 and 2 euro coins are not bad. Take all of these with you, or at least half, and use them as you go. They will be perfect for small bills up to 20-30 euro, but even if you have to use a couple of times more than that it will be fine. There may also be small convenience stores that may accept a bunch of them and change them for paper money, but you may have to buy something so they can open the register. For bakeries they will also be perfect. Taxi drivers may also change them for paper money and will like them as payment. You can also tip Uber drivers in coin (in Europe) and in the UK in pound coins.
Just go to any small shop in France and ask them to change some for paper money, like 30-50 euro at a time.