http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/shortcuts/2012/may/15/what-can-you-buy-just-with-1p-and-2p Not the disproportionate fine.
It's the same in Australia, I'm just not sure if you get fined for it, pretty sure recipient doesn't have to accept
In Australia: http://www.rba.gov.au/banknotes/legal-framework/legal-tender.html (or here: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2007C00565/Html/Text#param19) "According to the Reserve Bank Act 1959, Australian banknotes are legal tender. According to the Currency Act 1965, coins are legal tender for payment of amounts which are limited as follows: - not exceeding 20c if 1c and/or 2c coins are offered (however, it should be noted that these coins have been withdrawn from circulation but are still legal tender); - not exceeding $5 if any of 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c coins are offered; - not exceeding 10 times the face value if coins in the range 50c to $10 inclusive are offered; and - to any value if coins of value greater than $10 are offered." ... On this topic, I have noticed that certain coin-operated parking meters only accept a certain number of total coins, regardless of what they are. Personally I think such operations are against the banking act above. It was just an observation i made a few years back, I didn't take them to court