11.   At one Madrid cinema, the cashier insisted on paying back change in pesetas, explaining she was trying to get rid of the old coins too.

12.   By happy coincidence, the initials of European Currency Unit form the name of an old French coin.

13.   It said the new coins would not replace banknotes and old coins of similar denominations.

14.   Old coins can be exchanged with any bank before the year ends.

15.   Old coins bearing the image of King Juan Carlos I are also on the way out.

16.   The old coins are sold as scrap metal.

17.   The old coins will be melted down to make new ones.

18.   Bottlenecks for retailers taking in old coins and giving euros in exchange clouded official expectations that the single European currency would dominate transactions by the weekend.

19.   Bottlenecks for retailers in taking in old coins and giving euros in exchange clouded official expectations that the single European currency would dominate transactions by the weekend.

20.   Most of the cash returned will be handed in through a series of charity appeals for old coins that are being strongly supported.