Before you agree
- Agree on the exact coins: country, year, value and, for €2 coins, which design. Many countries issued several coins in the same year.
- Agree on condition. Use the usual grades (UNC, EF, VF, F) and ask for clear photos of both sides of valuable coins.
- Swap like for like. A common €2 for a common €2 is fair; a scarce coin deserves a scarce coin, or several in return.
- Start small with someone new. Build trust before you send valuable coins.
- Agree who sends first, or both send on the same day and share the tracking numbers.
Pack coins so they arrive safely
- Put each coin in a coin holder, capsule or small bag, so it cannot rub against other coins.
- Tape the holders to a piece of card, so they do not move or slide to a corner of the envelope.
- Use a padded envelope. Loose coins can tear normal envelopes and get lost in sorting machines.
- Add a short note with your name, the swap and the list of coins inside.
For valuable coins, a coin in its original case or capsule should travel in a small box or a well-padded envelope, always with tracking.
Ship with tracking
For anything more than a few common coins, send with a tracked service and share the tracking number with the other collector. It costs a little more, but it protects both of you if something goes missing. Check your postal service's rules on sending coins, especially across borders.
Protect your privacy
- Share your postal address only after you have agreed on the swap, and only with that collector.
- Never send money, card details or documents. A swap is coins for coins.
- Keep the conversation in one place, so you can look back at what was agreed.
If something goes wrong
Most problems are honest mistakes: a wrong year, a coin in worse condition than expected, a slow post office. Write to the other collector calmly first; most people are happy to fix it. If someone does not respond, behaves badly or asks for money, stop and report them.
How EuroCoiner helps
EuroCoiner's Swap My Coins matches you with collectors who have the coins you are missing and want your duplicates. Proposals list the exact coins, messages stay inside the swap, your e-mail is never shown, both sides mark when they have shipped and received, and you can block or report a collector at any time. EuroCoiner puts collectors in touch but does not take part in the swap, so these safety habits still matter.
Find collectors to swap with
Add your duplicates to your swap list in EuroCoiner and see which collectors have the coins you are missing.