Pearl circle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pearl circle (also pearl rim or pearl ring; French grènetis, German Perlkreis, Perlrand, Perlreif) is a circular arrangement of fine, raised points or "pearls" on the edge of coins;[1] it also sometimes appears in round or oval frames. It can be considered a relative or subsidiary form of the bead and reel motif.
If there is a pearl circle or a string of pearls on coins, it usually encloses the entire coin design. The pearl circle can be on one or both sides of a coin.[1] In addition to a simple beaded wreath, there are also double or multiple beaded circles. There are also variants that do not have circular beads or that show an alternating pattern of beads and other simple geometric figures.
Function
Pearl circles (later also small edge bars) were not only decorative, but they also served to protect the coin from forgeries and coin clipping[1] and thus from depreciation.