# Reeding

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{{short description|Surface treatment technique}}
[[File:King George VI Hong Kong 50 Cents 1951 Security Edge.jpg|thumb|right|Milled edge of a 1951 [Hong Kong 50¢ coin](/source/Coins_of_the_Hong_Kong_dollar)]]

'''Reeding''' or '''milling''' is a technique wherein a number of narrow ridges called "reeds" are carved or milled into a surface with a [Castaing machine](/source/Castaing_machine).<ref name="TFD">[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Reeding The Free Dictionary: "Reeding"]</ref><ref name="Dictionary">[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Reeding Dictionary.com: "Reeding"]</ref>

==Numismatics==
[[File:2-EUR-Muenze-de-freiheit.png|right|thumb|Milled edge of a German [2 euro coin](/source/2_euro_coin), embossed with Germany's unofficial [national motto](/source/national_motto) "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"]]

In [numismatics](/source/numismatics), reeded edges are often referred to as "ridged" or "grooved" (American usage), or "milled" (British usage).<ref>Concise Oxford Dictionary (2006): '''mill''', produce regular ribbed markings on the edge of (a coin)</ref> Some coins, such as [United States quarters](/source/Quarter_(United_States_coin)) and [dimes](/source/Dime_(United_States_coin)), [1 euro](/source/1_euro_coin), [Australian](/source/Coins_of_the_Australian_dollar) 5, 10, 20 cents, 1 and 2 dollars, as well many other current coins, have reeded edges.

One reason for having reeded edges was to prevent [counterfeiting](/source/Counterfeit_money).<ref name="Headley20170303">{{cite web |last=Headley |first=Susan |title=Reeded Edge Defined – What is a Reeded Edge? |url=https://www.thespruce.com/reeded-edge-definition-768474 |date=March 3, 2017 |website=The Spruce |access-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909235211/https://www.thespruce.com/reeded-edge-definition-768474 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some gold and silver coins were reeded to discourage [clipping](/source/Methods_of_coin_debasement), i.e. scraping off the precious metals from the edge of the coin, to maintain its stated value in precious metal.<ref name="Headley20170303" /> This practice was made more difficult through the implementation of reeding by [Isaac Newton](/source/Isaac_Newton) in 1698,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perthmint.com/news/collector/coin-collecting/how-isaac-newton-helped-shape-our-coins/ |date=September 29, 2015 |title=How Isaac Newton helped shape our coins |access-date=November 8, 2022 }}</ref> during his time as [warden of the Royal Mint](/source/Warden_of_the_Mint).

Another benefit of certain coins having reeded edges is that it helps the [visually impaired](/source/Visual_impairment) identify different coin denominations by sense of touch alone.

This dual purpose of reeding is sometimes made explicit on the milled edges of coins themselves.  For example, many issuances of the British [pound coin](/source/One_pound_(British_coin)) have historically had their edges inscribed with the [Latin](/source/Latin) phrase '{{Smallcaps|decus et tutamen}}', an adaptation from [Vergilius](/source/Vergilius)' ''[Aeneid](/source/Aeneid)'' meaning 'an ornament and a safeguard'.

==Furniture==
thumb|A cabinet with reeded doors
In [furniture](/source/furniture), reeding is sometimes used around bedposts, and the legs of tables and chairs.  Its use in this fashion was inspired by Greek and Roman architectural styles,<ref name="AboutFurn">{{Cite web |url=http://antiques.about.com/od/furniture/a/ReededLeg022110.htm |title="reeded leg" |access-date=2010-08-16 |archive-date=2010-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711142711/http://antiques.about.com/od/furniture/a/ReededLeg022110.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is the opposite of [fluting](/source/Fluting_(architecture)).

==Architecture==
In [architecture](/source/architecture), reeding is a form of [molding](/source/Molding_(decorative)) usually found on columns, and is sometimes considered to be synonymous with [gadrooning](/source/gadrooning).<ref name="Britannica">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/211529/fluting-and-reeding Encyclopædia Britannica: "Fluting and Reeding"]</ref>

==See also==
*[Knurling](/source/Knurling)
*[Milled coinage](/source/Milled_coinage)
*[Spline (mechanical)](/source/Spline_(mechanical))

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Woodworking}}

Category:Architectural elements
Category:Numismatics
Category:Woodworking
Category:Metalworking
Category:Metal forming
Category:Accessibility

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Reeding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeding) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeding?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.