The Shocking Truth: 5 Reasons Why Coins Have Ridges (It's Not What The Conspiracy Theories Claim)

Have you ever stopped to consider the tiny, intricate ridges that line the edge of a quarter or a dime? Known as "reeding" or a "milled edge," this feature is one of the most persistent and fascinating details in numismatic history. As of December 16, 2025, the true, verifiable reason for these ridges remains a cornerstone of currency security, a story that begins centuries ago with crime, precious metal, and a famous scientist.

The query "why do coins have ridges jew" often surfaces due to a dark, historical misconception and an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that has circulated for centuries. This article will definitively separate the verifiable historical facts of coin production from the prejudice-fueled allegations, revealing the true, practical, and ingenious purpose of the reeded edge.

The Real History of Reeding: 5 Facts That Debunk the Myths

The ridges on a coin's edge are not a modern aesthetic choice; they are a direct, physical solution to one of the oldest and most persistent forms of currency fraud: coin clipping. This practice, rampant in the 17th century, threatened to collapse the value of entire national currencies. Here are the five key facts about the true purpose and history of reeded edges.

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1. The Original Problem: Coin Clipping and Shaving

In the 17th century, most high-value coins (like silver shillings or gold guineas) were made of precious metals whose intrinsic value was equal to their face value. Criminals realized they could shave or clip tiny amounts of metal from the edges of many coins. They would then melt the accumulated shavings to create new bullion or counterfeit coins, while the clipped coins remained in circulation, albeit slightly reduced in size and weight.

• The Impact: A coin's true value was based on its weight. Clipping reduced the metal content, effectively devaluing the currency and causing massive economic instability.
• The Risk: A person could amass a significant amount of precious metal over time without visibly destroying a single coin, making the crime difficult to detect without weighing every coin.

2. The Ingenious Solution: Isaac Newton and the Milled Edge

The introduction of the reeded edge is famously credited to Sir Isaac Newton, the renowned physicist and mathematician. In 1696, Newton was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint in England (later Master of the Mint). He was tasked with solving the severe crisis caused by widespread coin clipping and counterfeiting.

Newton championed the use of a new minting process that would stamp a distinctive pattern onto the edge of the coin, known as "milling" or "reeding." This process was performed by a specialized machine called a milling machine.

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The ridges served as an immediate visual and tactile security feature. If a coin had been clipped, the smooth, even pattern of the reeding would be broken, making the fraud instantly noticeable to anyone handling the coin.

3. The Modern Purpose: Security and Accessibility

While modern coins are made of base metals (like copper-nickel or zinc) and their face value is far greater than their metal content, the reeded edge remains a critical feature for two main reasons:

• Anti-Counterfeiting: Reeding is a difficult feature for amateur counterfeiters to reproduce accurately, adding a layer of security to the coin.
• Accessibility: The ridges are essential for people with visual impairments. They allow a person to easily distinguish between different coin denominations by touch. For example, in the U.S., the dime (10 cents) and the quarter (25 cents) have reeded edges, while the nickel (5 cents) and penny (1 cent) have smooth edges.

4. The Distinction Between Coin Types

Not all coins have ridges. The U.S. Mint, for example, assigns reeded edges only to certain denominations to aid in identification. The pattern of reeding can even vary between countries or for commemorative coins, serving as an additional marker for authenticity.

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• Reeded Edges (U.S.): Dimes, Quarters, Half Dollars, and Dollar Coins.
• Smooth Edges (U.S.): Pennies and Nickels.

5. The Sensitive Context: Addressing the Anti-Semitic Allegation

The query "why do coins have ridges jew" stems from a historical and deeply rooted anti-Semitic trope. Historically, the crime of coin clipping was a widespread economic problem committed by individuals from all walks of life. However, in medieval Europe, particularly in England, Jewish people were often restricted from most professions and forced into money-lending and financial roles, making them easy scapegoats for any economic crisis.

The historical record shows that in 1278, King Edward I of England conducted a massive purge, arresting hundreds of Jewish people on charges of coin clipping and counterfeiting. This persecution, based on a generalized and prejudiced accusation, culminated in the Edict of Expulsion in 1290, which banished all Jews from England for centuries.

The Factual Conclusion: While the historical context links the *punishment* for coin clipping to the persecution of the Jewish community, the *invention* of the reeded edge was a universal security measure developed much later (in the 17th century) to prevent a crime committed by *all* types of criminals. The ridges exist to protect the currency from *anyone* attempting to shave off precious metal, and any claim linking their origin specifically to Jewish people is a modern perpetuation of an old, prejudiced, and factually incorrect conspiracy theory.

The Legacy of Coin Security: From Gold to Base Metal

The reeded edge is a perfect example of a security feature that has outlived its original material purpose. In the 17th century, it was a matter of preventing the loss of valuable silver and gold. Today, it is a matter of accessibility, tradition, and maintaining the integrity of the currency system against sophisticated modern counterfeiting techniques.

The next time you handle a coin, the ridges you feel are not a relic of a past prejudice, but a testament to the enduring ingenuity of Sir Isaac Newton and the critical importance of a stable, trustworthy currency. They are a silent, tactile assurance that the coin in your hand is exactly what it claims to be.

Key Numismatic Entities and Terms (Topical Authority)

Understanding the history of coin ridges requires familiarity with a few key terms and historical figures:

• Reeding (Milling): The official numismatic term for the ridges or serrations on the edge of a coin.
• Coin Clipping: The criminal practice of shaving off precious metal from the edges of a coin.
• Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727): The scientist who served as Warden and Master of the Royal Mint and was instrumental in implementing the reeded edge to combat clipping.
• The Royal Mint: The official body responsible for manufacturing UK currency, where the reeding technique was perfected.
• Edict of Expulsion (1290): The decree by King Edward I that expelled all Jews from England, often cited in the historical context of coin clipping allegations.
• Numismatics: The study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects.
• Intrinsic Value: The value of the precious metal contained within a coin (e.g., the gold or silver content).
• Face Value: The value stamped on the coin (e.g., $1.00 or 25 cents).
• Collar Die: The part of the minting press that holds the coin blank (planchet) and imprints the reeding onto the edge during the striking process.
• Planchet: The blank metal disk that is struck by the dies to become a finished coin.