SA writes:Â Do you know why coins have ridges? Curiousity and a school project……thanks…..
All coin edge designs, ornamental or not, are security devices to thwart counterfeiting and to prevent clipping small bits of precious metal from the edge of a coin. The reeding is imparted by the collar that holds the coin blank when it is struck. The tremendous pressure on the blank when it is struck forces the metal into the collar where it is impressed with the reeding.
Struck coinage held in place with a collar didn’t get started until the first half of the 17th century. Prior to this coins were hammered and even good workmanship left the coins not quite round. Since coins were mostly precious metal, clipping a small piece of metal from a coin would almost go unnoticed on these crude pieces.
The coin press was able to manufacture uniformly round coins that were easily identified if mutilated. Reeding was used in this country on most high denomination coins when the steam engine made reeding practical (1836).
After 1836, all precious metal coins had either a ornamental edge or a reeded edge to prevent the coins from being clipped. This included half-dimes to $20 gold coins. Clipping was obvious and the coin would be rejected.
Nickels and cents were minted in base metals, were essentially tokens and had limited legal tender status. These coins did not need the benefit of a reeded edge.
Though all of today’s coins are minted in base metals, reeding on coins remains traditional and nostalgic.
