Use them as gifts in pass the parcel.
This is a game that requires a little advance planning.
A collection of small gifts is put together, the biggest of which forms the centre piece in a parcel.
Wrap the parcel in newspaper (or wrapping paper if you're feeling flush!).
Add a layer of newspaper and inside that tuck a smaller gift - chocolate coins are ideal for this.
Keep wrapping the gift layer at a time until there's enough layers for everyone who'll be playing to have won a prize.
The game itself is played by passing the parcel round a circle with everyone sat down.
You play music and stop it and the person who has the parcel unwraps it and gets a prize.
You keep playing until the last person gets the middle bit.
With care you ensure everyone gets a prize and the birthday child gets the biggest one in the middle.
Chocolate coins make a great small gift for children and you could combine it with a proper money box to give them a long lasting present too.
Some people like to hang small stockings on the mantle piece and this is where small gifts like chocolate coins, satsumas and candy canes come in handy.
Giving children a little stocking first is a good way of ensuring that everyone is awake at the same time for big present opening time! You can fix silver thread to them and hang them on the Christmas tree.
This gives the tree a very special look and will get people desperate to nibble the decorations! Beware of this if you have small children who won't be able to resist, or dogs who are likely to eat them when no one is looking.