A Catalogue of Useless Facts

Reeded Coins

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Reeded Coins
- currency -

​​The parallel grooves etched on the outer circumference of many styles of coin are known as "reeding". When coinage was made of actual gold or silver, a common tactic by less-than-honest citizens was to shave or clip tiny amounts from the edges; each coin could still be redeemed for its minted value, and the excess metal would be sold for profit. Reeding was introduced to curb this practice -- or at least to make it more conspicuous.

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Sources ▼

https://coins.about.com/od/coinsglossary/g/reedededgedef.htm