The Hidden History Behind Coin Ridges: Why Dimes and Quarters Have Those Tiny Grooves

Absolutely! Here’s an engaging article about the history and purpose behind coin ridges, perfect for your recipe-like theme or an informative piece:

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## **The Hidden History Behind Coin Ridges: Why Dimes and Quarters Have Those Tiny Grooves**

Next time you hold a dime or a quarter, take a close look at its edges. You’ll notice tiny ridges, called **reeding** or **milling**—those little grooves that run around the circumference of the coin. But have you ever wondered *why* coins have these ridges? It turns out, there’s a fascinating history behind these tiny details that combines innovation, fraud prevention, and tradition.

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### 🪙 What Are Coin Ridges?

Those tiny grooves on the edges of many coins like dimes, quarters, and half-dollars aren’t just decorative. They’re a practical feature with a purpose that dates back centuries.

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### ⚖️ The Problem: Coin Clipping and Fraud

In the 17th and 18th centuries, when coins were made from precious metals like silver and gold, dishonest people would **shave or clip small amounts of metal** from the edges of coins. Over time, this “coin clipping” could reduce the coin’s weight and value without immediately being obvious to the average person.

This practice led to widespread losses, and governments needed a way to stop it.

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### 🔨 The Solution: Adding Ridges to Coin Edges

To combat clipping, mints started adding **ridges or grooves to the edges of coins**. These ridges made it easy to detect whether a coin had been tampered with—if any ridges were missing or uneven, it was a red flag that the coin had been clipped.

This innovation was first widely adopted by the **U.S. Mint in 1792** with the introduction of reeded edges on silver coins like dimes and quarters. It was a clever way to protect the value of coins without needing complex technology.

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### 🏛️ Tradition and Modern Use

Today, coins no longer carry precious metal value (mostly), but the ridges remain as a **tradition and security feature**. They help: