From the Pay Fine with Coins Dept.

[chrisild]

In Drajna, Romania, a 39 year old man paid a fine (traffic ticket) with 120 kilos of coins. According to a newspaper article (see link) he was supposed to pay 500 lei, about €120 ... and shlepped two buckets and a backpack full of coins to the office.

http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/Home/Nachrichten/Aus-aller-Welt/Artikel,-Mann-zahlt-Strafe-mit-120-Kilo-Muenzen-_arid,1589214_regid,2_puid,2_pageid,4293.html

The short article (in German) also mentions that currently there is a shortage of small change in Romania. Well, now we know who the culprit is.

Christian

[Figleaf]

Fun. A wise government tolerates this sort of protest. Bureaucrats tend to act according to strict rules, diminishing the humanity of their victims (as shown by Kafka). If the victims can at least express their displeasure, their frustration is lessened.

Interesting question. What makes people hoard small change. It might start as attempts to lighten their load. Take out the coins and call it a fresh start. If that becomes a habit, coins start piling up until the owner decides to do something with them. In short. A coin pile is repeating a bad and irrational habit.

Peter

[BC Numismatics]

Christian & Peter,
  This sort of thing occurs quite a bit,especially in America,where fines have been paid all in 1c. coins,& in England,where fines have been paid all in 1p. & 2p. coins.

It's a way of thumbing noses at the authorities,especially when the authorities are being heavy handed.

Aidan.