When you are interested in coins and coin collecting, you may wonder what reeding is. It is a raised edge, a design that was important when coins were worth their full value in metal. Coins that have reeding on their edges include the Kennedy half dollar, the Washington quarter, and the Roosevelt dime. Some coins are clad, meaning that they have two layers of metal – a center layer of copper and an outer layer of nickel-copper alloy.
There are two basic types of coins: those that are reeded and those without. These types of coins do not have any precious metals on them, which is why they have reeded edges. The reeded edge on a coin is the part that is actually reeded, and you can see the reeding by examining it closely. Some coins, such as dimes, quarters, and dollars, have reeded edges and are worth a lot more than others.
Another type of reeded edge is the lettered coin. These coins are the most common and are known as “slick” coins. They are often made from metal alloys that have been stripped of their edges. A coin that has a reeded edge has a metal overlay that is similar to the original reeding. Coin collectors refer to these coins as ‘cuds’.