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Absolutely! Here’s an engaging article exploring the history and purpose behind the ridges on coins like dimes and quarters:
The Hidden History Behind Coin Ridges: Why Dimes and Quarters Have Those Tiny Grooves
Have you ever picked up a dime or quarter and noticed the tiny ridges along its edges? You might have wondered, “Why are these coins not smooth like pennies or nickels?” These seemingly small details actually have a fascinating history and important purpose that goes back centuries.
A Problem From the Past: Coin Clipping
In the early days of coinage, precious metals like silver and gold were used to mint coins. These metals were valuable, and unfortunately, that meant people found ways to profit dishonestly by shaving off small amounts of metal from the edges of coins — a practice known as coin clipping.
This was a big problem because:
- Clipped coins were lighter and worth less than their face value.
- It undermined trust in the currency and disrupted trade.
- Governments and mints needed a way to protect coins from tampering.
The Ingenious Solution: Reeding the Edges
To combat coin clipping, mints began adding tiny ridges, or “reeds,” to the edges of coins. These grooves made it easy to spot if someone had shaved off metal — because any tampering would disrupt the ridges.
This practice started as early as the 17th century in Europe and was adopted in the United States shortly after the mint was established. Today, ridged edges are found primarily on coins made of valuable metals or higher denominations, such as dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars.
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