Coins pass through our hands every day, yet few people stop to ask why many of them have ridged edges. These grooves are not decorative. They were created to solve a serious problem that once threatened entire economies.
For centuries, coins were made from precious metals such as gold and silver, and their value depended directly on weight. This led to a widespread form of fraud known as coin clipping. Individuals would shave tiny amounts of metal from the edges of coins and sell the precious material separately. Over time, clipped coins became lighter, trust in currency declined, and economies suffered as confidence eroded.
Early governments attempted to stop the practice through harsh punishments and expensive re-minting efforts, but these measures failed to address the root of the problem. The true solution came through a simple yet effective physical innovation: ridged edges.
The evenly spaced grooves, known as reeding, made tampering immediately visible. Any attempt to shave metal would disrupt the pattern, allowing merchants and officials to detect fraud instantly—without scales or special training.
In the late 17th century, this innovation was standardized in England under the supervision of Sir Isaac Newton, one of history’s most renowned scientists. Serving as Warden and later Master of the Royal Mint, Newton oversaw the production of precisely weighed coins with reeded edges. His reforms helped restore confidence in England’s currency and set standards that influenced mints across Europe and beyond.
Even after coins stopped being made from precious metals, ridged edges remained. Over time, they became a symbol of reliability and integrity. Today, they still serve practical purposes—helping machines distinguish denominations, aiding visually impaired individuals through touch, and improving grip.
What may seem like a minor design detail is, in fact, a powerful reminder: small, thoughtful engineering choices can protect trust, stabilize economies, and endure for centuries.