By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — More than a million special money bags are being delivered to homes throughout the country this week as part of a drive by 11 charities to cash in on hoarded coinage before the euro changeover.
In their nationwide appeal, organizers of the “Pennies from Heaven” campaign say they hoped to raise about _5 million.
“It is estimated there is about _28 million lying around in people’s homes, so maybe we will be able to get more,” a spokesman said.
The drive is being backed by the Irish government and leading businesses and state companies.
Also supporting it are actors John Hurt, Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne and pop groups like Westlife and the Corrs.
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“The bags are being delivered by post from today and there will be 3,000 blue bins in post offices and some banks where people can return them full of coins,” the spokesman said.
The Central Bank is also launching an appeal for hoarded coinage this week entitled “Cash that Stash.”
“We will be urging people to cash it in before the changeover or to gather it up around the house and give it to a charity,” a spokesman said.
Prior to the Jan. 1 changeover to the euro, the coin shortages are worst for one penny and two penny pieces but there is also an increasing problem with five penny coins, worth O.06 euro.
“There are 2.4 billion coins in circulation — that is about 630 coins per head of population — but about half of them are not in active circulation,” the Bank’s spokesman said.
It is estimated tourists have taken home small change at the rate of about six coins each as souvenirs. Others have been lost or thrown away.
But the major problem is hoarding at home in drawers, jars and piggy banks.