Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Thousands of Coins Damage Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is made of about 40,000 stone pillars created by cooling lava millions of years ago.
Some visitors pushed coins into cracks in the rocks as a good-luck tradition.
Over time, thousands of coins became stuck in the pillars.
Rain and salty air made the coins rust and leave stains on the stone.
Rusting metal can also expand and push the rock apart.
Workers removed more than 20 kilograms of coins to reduce the damage.
The National Trust is putting up signs and sharing warnings online.
Visitors are encouraged to put money in charity boxes instead of placing it in the rocks.
Conservation crews removed more than 20 kilograms of loose change, or about 10,000 coins, from the Giant’s Causeway.
The multi-month removal operation began last May, according to the report.
Rain and salt air caused embedded copper, nickel and iron coins to oxidize and stain the volcanic rock.
As the metals rusted and expanded, they widened fissures and chipped fragile edges of the columns.
The National Trust has added signage and campaigns urging visitors to leave the geology untouched and donate to charity boxes instead.
- Who
- Conservation crews, the National Trust and visitors to the Giant’s Causeway are involved.
- What
- More than 20 kilograms of coins were removed after they began staining and damaging the volcanic pillars.
- When
- The multi-month removal operation began last May; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- The Giant’s Causeway on Ireland’s coastline.
- Why
- Coins placed in cracks oxidized, stained the rock and expanded as they rusted, widening fissures and damaging fragile edges.
- Coins removed
- More than 20 kilograms, or roughly 10,000 coins
- Landscape
- The Giant’s Causeway has about 40,000 geometric volcanic columns
- Formation
- The pillars formed millions of years ago as volcanic lava cooled and fractured
- Damage
- Oxidized metals caused reddish-brown stains, widened fissures and chipped rock edges
- Assessment
- The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland recommended immediate coin extraction
- Response
- The National Trust updated coastal signage and launched social-media awareness campaigns
- Alternative
- Visitors are encouraged to place money in designated charity collection boxes