I thought so too. The piano has been drinking not me.

Back on topic, in Canada you can find machines in many supermarkets that will allow you to dump unlimited amounts of "small change" into a hopper. The machine then issues a receipt for the total amount which you can cash out at any of the checkouts.

When I cleared out the numerous pots of silly money in June, I walked away with about $350 in crisp bills.

I assume the "exchange rate" was not at parity, but WTF?

I think the ones in the US payout 95c on the dollar.

Sounds right.

I just give my change to the wife, she has a thing called a purse designed for such stuff.

Hmm but how much of it actually goes to charity these days?

Good point, there are always administrative costs, but most charities publish pie-charts to show where all the money goes, and it's all transparent nowadays.
P.S. I "inherited" a big jar of "coppers" from my former neighbour and firstly made little piles to constitute 20 centimes' worth, kept them separate and paid the baker with them. When I was reduced to too many 1 and 2 centimes, they went into the Pièces Jaunes box....

I'd do the same except for the fact that I'd only pay out the equivalent of about 50c on the dollar!
As Tommy Cooper once said, "It's not the principal - it's the money!"

Have kids. Mine are always "stealing" the coins we leave lying around.  

In the US a lot of those holding/shaking the collecting tins are hourly paid employees, and the "net value" of donations is greatly diminished.

Anyone who looks up the expense ratios might be shocked to discover how much of donations is eaten up by expenses and overheads - 50% plus is not uncommon for high profile celebrity-linked charitable foundations. IIRC the charitable foundation started by the actor Paul Walker, who died in a car crash last year, was spending 70% of its income in expenses.

But those who do receive the now-transparent reports can decide for themselves whether to continue donating or not. One minor incentive for donating in France is that you can declare your donations to the Tax Office each year and the total sum (up to a certain limit) is deducted from your declared income. (But this doesn't work with cash in collecting boxes).

Back to the original question ... our Leclerc supermarket has a change machine into which you can pour your buckets of small change. It will either give you a voucher for that amount to be spent in the store (warning: it must be spent in one go, you can't spend half and expect change or another voucher. I found that when cashing in €120 and having to do a bulk buy of loo rolls, shampoos, etc., just to use it up!). Or it will give you notes back less a percentage ... I think it's 6% but can't be sure.

You lugged 120€ worth of small coins to the supermarket?
I can think of expensive treats or even less bulky essentials to choose in exchange for the voucher!

I admire your self-control. I think I'd have seen the wine section beckoning, and the €120 would have nicely bought a case

Six bottles of Bombay Sapphire.......