Shave tiny slivers of metal from the edges of coins
Gather the shavings to melt down into bullion
Spend the clipped coin as full value — because it still seemed whole
Just a little off each coin.
Hard to notice.
But do it hundreds of times?
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?
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