minimum_coins.py

def minimum_coins(value, denominations):
    result = []
    # Assuming denominations is sorted in descendig order
    for cur_denom in denominations:
        while cur_denom <= value:
            result.append(cur_denom)
            value = value - cur_denom

    return result

# Testing
def test():
    scenarios = [[100, [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [50, 50]],
                 [101, [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [50, 50, 1]],
                 [77,  [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [50, 25, 1, 1]],
                 [38,  [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [25, 10, 1, 1, 1]],
                 [17,  [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [10, 5, 1, 1]],
                 [3,   [50, 25, 10, 5, 1],      [1, 1, 1]],
                 [191, [100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 1], [100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 1]]]

    for scenario in scenarios:
        actual = minimum_coins(scenario[0], scenario[1])
        if actual != scenario[2]:
            message = "Test Failed: Value: {}, Denominations: {}, Expected Result: {}, Actual Result: {}".format(scenario[0], scenario[1], scenario[2], actual)
            print message

    return None

test()