You’d have a fortune in stolen silver and the government would be none the wiser.
This wasn’t rare.
It was uncontrolled.
And it menaced the entire economy.
The Solution: Reeded Edges — The Original Anti-Fraud Tech
Let’s introduce Sir Isaac Newton. That Isaac Newton, indeed.
The renowned physicist was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint in England in 1696.
And one of his initial expeditions?
Put down the coin clippers.
His remedy?
Coin edges can be given ridges, or “reeds.”
It was impossible to clip silver without being noticed because of these reeding grooves.
Why?
- A clipped coin would have broken or uneven ridges
- A full coin had perfect, continuous grooves
- No machine at the time could reproduce the mint’s precise reeding pattern
- It was 17th-century security tech — and it worked.
Fun fact: Newton personally prosecuted over 100 counterfeiters — some of whom were sentenced to passing.
Why Some Coins Still Have Ridges (And Others Don’t)
- Fast forward to today.
- Coins aren’t made of silver anymore (except for special editions).
