As we all know, the Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar and older Dollar coins all have coin reading on the edges of the coins. If you do some simple reading on it, coin reading is there for several reasons. 1. By the late 1700's, people would commonly 'clip' or 'shave' down coins containing precious metal. This would allow them to build up a stockpile of gold or silver, then introduce the shaved coin into circulation. There was no easy way to tell that the coin was altered, so it was accepted back into circulation. By adding reading, they could no longer do that and get away with it otherwise it would be visually obvious. 2. Counterfeiting. The early coins of America (and the world) were fairly easy to copy and make forgeries of. With some talent, someone could produce a 'passable' coin in about a day or so. By adding the reading, it made it even MORE difficult to copy a coin, thereby helping to reduce counterfeit coins. 3. Visually Impaired assistance. The reading helps the blind (or nearly blind) identify what coin they have in their hand (example - The Dime and Cent are similar in diameter, so the reading on the dime helps to distinguish the two). Okay.. so those are the basic facts that I have learned about it. My 'conspiracy' theory.... Since the 1960's and 1970's, modern circulating coins have no precious metal in them anymore. So, worries about people 'shaving' the coins down is an obsolete thought. Counterfeiting... the technology available to every day people is so advanced, that making copies of things is a simple process. The mint continues to address this issue with the paper currency, and does not really bother with the coinage. I guess it is to just assume that no one is going to take the time to counterfeit enough quarters to make a lot of money. With the visually impaired, the only two coins that could possibly be confused would be the dime and the cent.... And even those are easy to tell by their thickness and weight... I just don't see a reason to continue this 'tradition'. Heck... Lady Liberty used to be on the coins, and they blew that out of the water in favor of dead presidents. So, why continue THIS tradition above all others? Vending machines.... They were invented and introduced in the 1880's. The first one in the United States was introduced in New York (it sold Tuti-Fruitti Gum). Is it possible... that the Vending Machine companies of the US are actually giving a bit of a 'kick back' to the US government in order to keep the reading? I mean, afterall, doesn't the vending machines rely apon these readed edges? I know.. it's a stupid thing... and a silly discussion... but i'm bored... and thought it might be fun to just 'theorize'.
It's not stupid at all. Everyone knows that the aliens that own the vending machines are cooperating with the government to collect soda preferences of everyone in the world in order to create a super soda that turns humans into zombie slaves for the future alien race.
Guess that in the US, where you have four denominations in circulation (penny, nickel, dime, quarter), it would not really be necessary to have any kind of edge "mark". Elsewhere that is different though. By the way, that should be reeded, I suppose. Or maybe milled. Not being picky here; it's just that first I was not quite sure what you meat. Christian
Alien soda.. Interesting... I wonder if it will taste like Moxy... hmmm... As for the 'reading' versus 'reeding'... I wasn't sure which to use where 'reeding' pops as a mispelled word on this site... As for boredom... yeah... It's called "selective boredom"... I have a lot to do, and little energy or focus to do such tasks!
I initially thought he meant edge lettering which could be read, not reeding. I must have red it rong
Because it IS a tradition which by definition is something you do because you have always done it, even if there is no good reason to do so.
Well since even small denomination modern coins are still occasionally found counterfeited AND the edge is the hardest part to replicate accurately, I suppose that the reeding still has some practical purpose.
