A surprise inspection of practically every home would most likely reveal at least one stash of coins accumulating over the years. Whether it's a mason jar, a ceramic jug or a piggy bank, most of us find ourselves becoming amateur coin collectors out of sheer necessity. So what is the best way to cash in coins, short of spending hours sorting, counting and wrapping them ourselves? The answer may be as close as your local bank, grocery store or gadget outlet.

At first, the most obvious place to cash in coins seems to be a bank, but you may have to think again. A number of banks now have strict policies on coin cashing, so you should call ahead before deciding to cash in coins the bank may not accept. Some banks only allow account holders to cash in coins, and only after marking every approved wrapper with the customer's name and account number. These wrappers should be destroyed by the bank after the coins have been credited. This coin exchange service is usually free, however, so it may be the best option if you have an established account with a bank.

Some banks now have coin-sorting machines in their lobbies that allow customers and non-customers alike to cash in coins. Currently, these bank-sponsored machines are few and far between, located mainly in the northeastern United States. As their popularity grows, more banks may introduce similar machines worldwide. These machines are calibrated to accept a large supply of unsorted coins placed in a hopper. These coins are counted, evaluated for damage or counterfeiting and finally tallied for the customer. Children can even estimate the total for a chance to win nominal prizes.

A number of chain grocery and retail stores have recently introduced commercial coin sorting machines for their customers. Companies such as CoinStar provide the machines, which work much like the bank-sponsored versions. Customers cash in coins by placing an unsorted supply into a large hopper. The coins are separated mechanically and pass under sensors that detect defective, foreign or counterfeit coins. These coins are automatically sent to a reject bin. The remaining coins are counted and tallied. Customers receive a ticket redeemable for cash, minus a service fee of between eight and ten percent of the total.

For those who wish to cash in coins from the comfort of home, there are several gadgets available to make the job easier. Electric coin sorters use mechanical and electronic methods to separate coins into individual denominations. Some supply paper coin wrappers and holders for easier processing. These consumer-level coin sorters can often be ordered through gadget stores such as Brookstone or Sharper Image. Make sure you have included all the necessary information before you cash in coins processed from home. The rolls may have to be recounted or rewrapped by bank employees before they can be reissued.