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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ewomack, post: 2800868, member: 15588&quot;]Yes, this is an interesting question. Those ridges do seem more than quaint.</p><p><br /></p><p>This article cites the ability for the visually impaired to tell the differences between denominations such as the penny and dime: <a href="http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-do-coins-have-ridges" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-do-coins-have-ridges" rel="nofollow">http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-do-coins-have-ridges</a></p><p><br /></p><p>It also said that reeding impedes counterfeiting, or at least makes it a little more challenging, though that may become less relevant over time.</p><p>Other sources I found said that reeding &quot;enhances a coin&#039;s artistry.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>This very subject came up when I toured Canada&#039;s Ottawa mint about a month ago, and I&#039;m sad to say that I can&#039;t remember every reason they gave - I was too busy looking at huge coils of gold that would soon turn into Maple Leafs.</p><p><br /></p><p>The true answer may be the most prosaic: &quot;we&#039;ve always done it this way&quot; or &quot;why change tradition now?&quot;[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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