Coin and Paper Money Collecting/bicentenial quarter

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Expert: - 5/25/2011


Question
Hi Dan:
I have a friend that has a bicentennial quarter that has the front side on both sides. Since the date is located on the reverse, we cannot determine the date or state that it was to commemorate. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance.
Tom Bruno Sr.

Answer
Tom,

You have one of the 50 state, territorial, or national parks quarters -- not a bicentennial quarter (which are dated 1776-1976 on the front).

All quarters since 1999 have the date on the back, so it could be any of them.

However, what you have is actually something else -- a novelty item known as a magician's coin, made by altering two coins and gluing the pieces back together.  That's why it has two heads sides.

If you use a strong magnifier and examine both sides, just inside the raised rim, you will find on one side a seam where the two pieces are joined together.  These novelty items sell for a couple dollars in magic shops or on eBay.

I hope this helps,

Dan

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Dan Moore

Expertise

My strong familiarity with all U.S. Mint coins, extensive reference library, and close relationships with many other dealers allows me to identify just about any coin made in the USA. I receive regular updates to all the current price guides -- both wholesale & retail -- to provide accurate values. So, with a good description or pictures, I should be able to identify and value any U.S. coin you have.

Experience

I've been a coin dealer since the 1980's and a coin collector since the 1960's. I specialize in U.S. Silver Coins and have an active online website -- The Working Man's Rare Coins -- http://www.workingmancoins.com -- offering information and inventory in U.S. coins.

Organizations I belong to :
American Numismatic Association Member #187770
Michigan State Numismatic Society Member #8255
Florida United Numismatics Member #19710
Monroe Coin Club Treasurer
Lincoln Coin Club Board Member
WINS Member #14
CoinMasters Member #1814

Frequently Asked Questions :
I have created a Frequently Asked Questions page on my website, where you may be able to get an immediate answer to your question. You can find the page here :
http://www.workingmancoins.com/FAQ/index.htm


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