Arriving at the register with a jar full of cents just to finally get rid of them may seem perfectly legal. After all, euro coins are legal tender. However, a merchant can refuse payment if you present more than 50 coins at one time.
And the amount of the purchase makes no difference. You could theoretically try to pay 51 cents with 51 1-cent coins: the seller would be within their rights to refuse. Conversely, a payment of 100€ consisting of 50 2€ coins does not, on its own, exceed this limit.
A European rule that also applies in supermarkets
This rule does not stem from a specific policy of Carrefour, Lidl, Aldi, or Leclerc. It applies to all French retailers and, more broadly, throughout the eurozone.
This rule has been in place since the introduction of the single currency: no one is required to accept more than 50 coins in a single transaction. Without this limit, a customer could theoretically pay a large sum with hundreds or even thousands of small coins, which would make processing the payment considerably more complicated. However, there is no fine for a customer who attempts to pay with 51 coins. The merchant may simply refuse this form of payment and ask for an alternative method.
The rule is all the more surprising given that, in principle, businesses are required to accept cash. Refusing legal tender—whether bills or coins—without a valid reason can even expose a business owner to a fine of up to €150.
Coins aren’t the only situation in which a cash payment can be refused. The customer is normally expected to pay the exact amount. If you want to pay for a €6 purchase with a €200 bill and the merchant doesn’t have enough change to give you, they can therefore refuse the bill.