In ancient times, coins were struck from gold and siver.
Criminals invented a scheme called " coin clipping " as the metals used were valuable ......
Someone would shave the precious metal off the rim. So thin it was barely noticeable.
But when this was done to many coins, barely noticeable metal amounts to bigger portion of metal !!!
To combat this issue, governments began introducing coins with rigged edges.
Even a small amount of clipping would interrupt the continuous pattern, allowing public to identify the altered coins.
Coins today are struck from cheap alloys.
But ridged edges never went away.
Grooved edges have now become a recognizable hallmark !!!
Higher denomination coins are ridged while small denomination ones are not.....
A quick feel of edges tells us what we are holding......!!!
This feature helps visually impaired persons.
There is also a grip benefit !!!
A perfectly smooth coin can slip right our of wet hands but a gesture edge is much easier to hold onto.
