2006-08-26 06:46:42 · 5 answers · asked by johnn 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
They are called 'reeds' after an architectual form called 'reeding' or 'fluting'. Which just means surfaces worked into a regular series of vertical concave grooves or convex ridges
It doesn't serve a purpose beyond aesthetic value. The designer of the quarter, John Flanagan, was a sculptor and had designed several larger works like the Aetna Life Insurance Building in Hartford, CT. There is reeding on that building as well.
So maybe he just liked the design and used it more than once.
2006-08-26 07:15:31 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Guided 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When certain coins like the US quarter had real silver in them, they didn't at first have ridges. The ridges were put there to prevent certain unsavory types from shaving off bits of the precious metal. The US Mint wanted a certain amount of the metal in the coin. Now, since there is no precious metal in any US general circulation coin, the ridges are allegedly to help vision impaired persons recognize the coins--big and ridges a quarter, small with ridges a dime.
2006-08-30 00:43:03 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Possibly to decipher the quarter from the Susan B. Anthony dollar which is about the same size as a quarter
2006-08-26 06:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by Lov'n IT! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better to stick to your pockets!
2006-08-26 07:26:08 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. PDQ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to help identify it ???
2006-08-26 07:48:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋