Expert: PAPAJACK - 5/12/2008

Question
I received as change a 50 cent piece that has a double tail, it looks like it is real the edges are perfect and cant see to see any seam. Have you ever heard of this  or can you provide me with someone who can look at it that is fair and reliable.
I will provide pics  if needed Thank you
John

Answer
Hello John,                             

They are not rare and it is not an error coin.
I have experience with these coins and have seen them in Quarters, Half Dollars and Nickels. These two headed, or Two Tailed coins are Trick coins, sometimes called Magicians Coins.

All the ones I have come across are machined out on one side, while an identical coin is thinned and slightly reduced in diameter. The smaller and thinner half is then placed in the hollowed out half coin.
Sometimes this was done as a novelty to sell, to fool people on a coin toss, or a machinist’s apprentice practicing his trade. I have also heard of them being sawed in halves and glued together.

They may sell for .50 cents and up to $2 dollars in a shop. Again they are not rare, and are not in demand by coin collectors.

The modern process the US Mint uses makes it virtually impossible for an HEADS (obverse) die to be matched with anything but a TAILS (reverse) die in the presses used to stamp out coins.

For information on true error coins look for the book "The ERROR COIN ENCYCLOPEDIA" by Arnold Margolis. It goes into detail about how errors have occurred at the mint.  Your Library may have a copy or it is inexpensive to buy.

If you feel you want it looked at by a reliable coin-person feel free to write me again for one in your area.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack