An incident from Kunming, China, in August 2013 has resurfaced, highlighting how a payment decision can become a protest and cause disruption. A noodle shop owner settled a 10,000 yuan judicial compensation using exclusively 0.1 yuan coins, amounting to 100,000 pieces carried in eight large bags.
The case originated from a store altercation in September 2012, leading to a court order for the merchant to pay 68,000 yuan in damages to a couple. The remaining 10,000 yuan was delivered in an unusual manner. The couple faced difficulties exchanging the coins at various banks, eventually finding one willing to count them, an effort that required 18 bank employees and an entire day, processing only half the amount.
This method ignited debates on the limits of payment choice, with experts noting that while legal, the act imposed disproportionate costs on creditors and the bank, creating collective impacts. In Portugal, the law limits coin acceptance to 50 per payment, except for the state and financial institutions, making such a settlement impractical.
