why don't nickles have ridges around the edge like dimes & quarters?
2006-12-14 05:57:31 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Why do some coins have grooves on the edges? And why are they there?
The dollar, half-dollar, quarter, and ten-cent coin denominations were originally produced from precious metals (gold and silver). Reeded edges were eventually incorporated into the design of these denominations to deter counterfeiting and the fraudulent use of the coins, such as filing down the edges in an attempt to recover the precious metals.
The one-cent and five-cent pieces are considered "minor" coins of the United States and have never contained precious metals.
Currently, none of the coins produced for circulation contain precious metals. However, the continued use of reeded edges on current circulating coinage of larger denominations is useful to the visually impaired. For example, the ten-cent and one-cent coins are similar in size; the reeding of the ten-cent coin makes it easily identifiable by touch.
2006-12-14 06:11:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ridges on coins originated when people began shaving the edges of money for the gold and silver. They then would melt it done once they had enough and make more money. So the government started putting ridges on money so that people could tell when this was happening. Nickels don't have ridges because they are less in circulation and value then quarters and dimes, the same reason that pennies don't have ridges.
2006-12-14 14:43:34 · answer #2 · answered by superstarlauren_02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Originally, dimes and quarters had ridges to keep people from shaving off the edges (they used to be made of silver). I guess you shave a little off of a lot of coins and you could melt it down and sell it. The metal in pennies and nickles was not worth as much, so they didn't have the problem of people "shaving" the coins.
2006-12-14 14:08:07 · answer #3 · answered by Ecaria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when money was real like silver or gold the ridges kept people from cliping little bits off each coin
2006-12-14 14:00:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The clipping comment is absolutely correct. It is also to help machines and the visually impaired differentiate between the different US coins.
2006-12-14 14:04:50 · answer #5 · answered by Charles1898 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ruffles needed them, so the Nickels got together and agreed to donate theirs.
2006-12-14 13:59:58 · answer #6 · answered by kja63 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋