Most people have handled countless coins without wondering why some have tiny ridges around their edges. Those grooves are more than decoration—they were originally designed to prevent a clever form of theft known as coin clipping.

Centuries ago, many coins were made from valuable gold or silver. Criminals would shave small amounts of metal from the edges and keep the pieces, while the altered coins continued circulating. Because the missing metal was difficult to notice, this practice could become highly profitable over time.

To combat clipping, mints began producing coins with reeded edges. Any attempt to shave the metal would leave visible damage, making tampering easier to detect. In the late 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton also played an important role in improving England’s coinage system while serving at the Royal Mint.

Today, coins are generally made from less valuable metals, but ridged edges still have practical benefits. They can help people distinguish coins by touch, assist vending and counting machines, and make counterfeiting more difficult. So those tiny lines around a coin are actually a fascinating reminder that a simple design can have a surprisingly important history.

Why Coins Have Tiny Ridges Around the Edge