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What is the criteria for a denticle to be considered a denticle? Such as, it must be squared, or it must touch the rim, etc.

A denticle is a raised toothlike feature around the rim of a coin some are round some are sq. older coins they were attached to the rim newer coins have dots as denticles some attached to the rim and others have space from the rim to denticle.

I'm not sure what kind of answer you are looking for but they form around the rim of the coin

Thanks for your answer Jim. I am looking for a definition for denticles, to differentiate it from beading or some other design elements.

Go ahead and google "denticle coins" and just go through the 100's of definitions from site posters during the last 20 years. Some pretty famous collectors have definitions there and some say that they've used the term for the last 30 years. To me, they are elements of the coin design to fill the die of excess metal as the coin is struck. It keeps the rims intact and smooth. The heated metal from the force of the strike has to go somewhere toward the perimeter, so there you have the denticles capturing it. It's no longer needed with more modern presses.

In my research on this topic, I have only seen “raised toothlike design around the rim of some coins”. But teeth come in lots of varieties, Jim’s answer is the most detailed definition I have come across yet. I have found the reasons for them are, to make them harder to counterfeit, to help stop coin shaving and to aid in stacking. I appreciate your differing explanation Bill, as that is what I’m looking for.

what is the precise term used when denticles create grooves right in the rim?

what is the precise term used when denticles create grooves right in the rim?