A reeded edge on a coin refers to the series of evenly spaced vertical grooves or ridges that appear around the coin’s perimeter. These ridges are also sometimes called “ridged” or “grooved” in American usage, or “milled” in British usage. You can observe reeded edges on many coins, including US quarters, dimes, and some modern dollar coins, as well as Euro coins and Australian coinage.
The practice of adding ridges to coin edges dates back to the 17th century. Before reeding was introduced, coins were often simple discs of precious metal like gold and silver. This made them vulnerable to a practice known as clipping , where people would shave off small amounts of the valuable metal from the edges. The shavings could then be melted down and sold, effectively devaluing the original coin while still allowing it to be spent at its face value. This clipping could significantly reduce the amount of precious metal in circulation, leading to economic problems.
Sir Isaac Newton, while serving as Warden of the Royal Mint in England in the late 1600s, played a key role in implementing reeded edges to combat this problem. With reeded edges, any attempt to shave off metal from the coin’s edge became immediately noticeable, making it much harder to clip coins without detection.
Even though most modern circulating coins are no longer made of precious metals, reeded edges continue to be used for several reasons:
- Anti-Counterfeiting: The intricate process of creating reeded edges adds another layer of difficulty for counterfeiters.
- Differentiation: Reeded edges can help visually impaired individuals distinguish between different coin denominations by touch.
- Tradition: Reeded edges have become a standard feature in coinage, a continuation of a historical element linking modern currency to its past.
What is a reeded edge coin?
Reeded edges are often referred to as “ridged” or “grooved” (US usage), or “milled” (UK usage). Some coins, such as United States quarters and dimes, have reeded edges. Reeding of edges was introduced to prevent coin clipping and counterfeiting.
What does it mean if a penny has reeded edges?
Thanks for asking. One reason for having reeded edges was to prevent counterfeiting. Some gold and silver coins were reeded to discourage clipping, i.e. scraping off the precious metals from the edge of the coin, to maintain its stated value in precious metal.
Why are coins still reeded?
Good point! This deters counterfeiters from even trying, as the process can be expensive and difficult to perfect. Reeded edges are also there to prevent clipping and shaving. Clipping or shaving a coin involves shaving off the metal around the edge of the coin.
What does a reeded edge look like?
Good point! Plain: The edge is smooth with no indentations or design on it. Reeded: A series of tiny grooves running perpendicular that encompass the entire edge of the coin. Lettered: Letters can be relief or incuse into the coin’s edge.