I need your advise, my friends.

I need your help, my friends. I take part in a contest (on Russian numismatic forum about USA's coins). And I don't know the answer on this question: how many strips are located on edges of coins ("Roosevelt Dime", "Washington Quarter" and "Kennedy Half"). And why such quantity of strips there is located?

 

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Something lost in translation Eugene. Not sure what you mean. Stripes?

 

Oh, wait a second. You talking about the 'reeded' edge?

 

This help somewhat?

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/91201

 

Or do you mean how many ridges are around the edge of the coin?

 

Oh, yes! Yes! Reeded edge!

 

1. Why Lincoln Cent and Jefferson Nickel has a plain edges?
2. Why Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half has a reeded edges?
3. How many ridges are on a Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half?
4. Why such quantity of ridges on a Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half?

 

I am not sure how many, but I think when the dime, quarter, and half were made of silver, the ridges were placed there so you could tell iff the coin had been shaved. For example, if someone shaved the edges off enough silver coins, they could amass a bunch of silver and still spend the coins at face value. Essentially, if the reeded edges were not there, then on could tell someone had shaved some of the silver off from the edge of the coin.

I am sorry my explanation is not clear. If you don't understand, I'll try again.

 

Thank you very much, Sir. You give me the great help!

 

Sir, it's very important information for me! Thank you so much!

 

You really nailed that one Green18. It's almost like they wrote this article just so you could pass it on to Siberian Man. It reminds me of why the cross is seen on the back of so many Medieval coins. To help eliminate the clipping of the coin for the silver content.

 

You are very welcome Eugene. And stop calling me 'sir'. It's 'Ken'..........

 

Wow! You give me answers on all of my questions, my friends!

 

1. Why Lincoln Cent and Jefferson Nickel has a plain edges?
This is because they are made of base metals & would not normally be clipped or shaved to remove precious metal.

2. Why Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half has a reeded edges?
They were silver coins & needed to be resistant to clipping or shaving of their valuable silver metal (until clad coinage was introduced in 1965)

3. How many ridges are on a Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half?
Modern dimes have 118, quarters have 119, and half dollars have 150 ridges (which we call reeding).

4. Why such quantity of ridges on a Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter and Kennedy Half?
The type of reeding can indicate the origin of the coin (mint) & allows identification of the denomination from the edge pattern (vending machine counterfeit detection).

 

Ken , great link . Glad you could help Eugene out , but where did you dig up that link ? BTY Good luck on the cotest Eugene .

 

Thank you very much, guys!

 

Go get em, Eugene! Show em you got numismatic muscle and resources.

 

Be sure you read the paragraph above the one that gives those modern numbers where it points out that old US coins varied in the reeding count. I don't collect US coins but have a sudden desire to see a CC mint coin with 89 bands.

 

I've won the contest! Right answer: dime - 118, quarter - 119, half - 150!

 

Right on!