EPISODE · Aug 12, 2025 · 5 MIN
#4 The Crime of Coining: Why Shaving a Penny Could Get You Killed
from Curiosity Fuel - Daily stories. Five-minute facts · host Curiosity Studios
Before paper money, the value of a coin was the metal it contained. This led to a widespread and dangerous crime: coin clipping. Discover the forgotten history of "coining," why shaving tiny bits of silver off a penny was a capital offense, and how Sir Isaac Newton himself led the hunt for England's most notorious counterfeiter.
What this episode covers
Before paper money, the value of a coin was the metal it contained. This led to a widespread and dangerous crime: coin clipping. Discover the forgotten history of "coining," why shaving tiny bits of silver off a penny was a capital offense, and how Sir Isaac Newton himself led the hunt for England's most notorious counterfeiter.
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#4 The Crime of Coining: Why Shaving a Penny Could Get You Killed
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