The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has asked companies to bid for more than 64 tonnes of defunct coins, which it is selling as scrap – following a failed attempt to sell the old coins last year.

The tender process is open until June 9, 2014 and the central bank is preparing to let potential bidders inspect its wares during the first week of June.

The majority of the scrap – 53 tonnes – comprises coins made of a copper-zinc-nickel alloy. Of that, 54% is copper, 9% nickel, 34% zinc and 3% ‘other