More than 30 trucks carrying 5-cent coins arrived at Apple's headquarters in California. According to the report, the trucks were initially turned away by security, but after a call from Samsung's CEO to Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, it was clarified that the coins were intended as payment for a $1 billion fine recently imposed on the South Korean company.
The payment method was reportedly chosen because the signed document did not specify how the fine should be paid. As a result, Samsung opted to send the payment in 5-cent coins, totaling 20 billion coins, with delivery expected to be completed within the week.
Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, stated that his company would not be intimidated and knew how to respond in kind if necessary. He said,
You can use your coins to buy refreshments at the little machine for life or melt the coins to make computers, that’s not my problem, I already paid them and fulfilled the law.
The move is seen as an unconventional approach to paying the fine, leaving Apple executives with the task of counting and depositing the large quantity of coins.
The situation will likely continue to unfold as Apple responds to this unique payment method.
