Why do dimes and quarters have ridges on the their edges?

[MNeagle]

Why do dimes and quarters have ridges on the their edges?
However pennies and nickels do not.



Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

This goes back to much earlier times when high denomination coins were actually made of gold or silver. Before the ridges were added, some unscrupulous people would file small amount off around the edges, then sell the metal shavings. The ridges were added to show if the possessor of a coin may have tampered with it. Copper and cheaper metal coins didn't need the ridges because it was not worth someone's time to shave the edges.



http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100726212348AAaBR9L

[Heimdhal]

It also helps with wear and tear, and picking them up off slick wood floors.

Ive been wondering when they are gonna make CD's with ridges, cause I can never get them suckers up.

[E. Haney]

While that was the original reason for reeding, the reeds were maintained after coinage went to base metals to help the blind differentiate their coins:
Large without reeds = Dollar coin
Large with reeds = Quarter dollar
Small without reeds = Cent
Small with reeds = Dime
The nickel is self-evident being medium sized and thicker.

[Dogman]

It also helps with wear and tear, and picking them up off slick wood floors.

Ive been wondering when they are gonna make CD's with ridges, cause I can never get them suckers up. That is why fingernails were invented!

1038




;D

[MNeagle]

Is the E. short for Ed?

Welcome!

[Dogman]

Is the E. short for Ed?

Welcome!

Ditto! Welcome , Hope it is not for Eugene!

[MNeagle]

Mr. Eustace Haney: Pat Buttram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Buttram)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Acres


I was mistaken, sorry.

[Dogman]

I was mistaken, sorry. We both walked into that one with our eyes wide shut!

1039

[MNeagle]

well my memory is shot lately, so I blame it on that!

But Ed Haney rings a bell!!

[E. Haney]

I was mistaken, sorry.

First name really Eustace (it has not been an easy life, Green Acres didn't help), last name not really Haney (internet anonymity), but if I am going to be saddled with Eustace I may as well grab some "Hollywood" fame or is that "Hooterville" fame?:cool:

[ximmy]

ruffles have ridges...

[madfranks]

Back when the US still made gold and silver coins, if there were no reeds on the edges, it was very easy for people to use their pocket knife and scrape some of the metal off the rim and save it up. The reeds kept people from shaving their coins. Of course today with our coinage being essentially token metal, there is no real threat of people shaving the metal off their coins for gain.

[Sparky]

Ironically, the nickel doesn't have reeds, and it's currently the only coin worth shaving for the cupro-nickel.