Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 10/15/2007

Question
QUESTION: I recently came across a 1982 two-headed quarter.  Based upon the responses you have given to others, I would imagine this coin belonged to a magician.  Am I correct?  Are there any two-headed coins out there that are worth anything more than their face value?

ANSWER: Kathy, yes by far the most likely (though not certain) explanation for a two headed quarter is that it was put together by soldering two halves of quarters together.  When that is done, there should be a seam on the edge where the two pieces were put together.  That is mostly done for magic tricks.  I believe I have heard of one or two legitimate two headed coins (or other coins that you would normally not expect to be made).  If authentic, these have sold for quite a lot.  There can't be very many of them though (and that's why they sell for quite a lot, if there were a lot of them, they would be cheaper), as it would take a major mistake (I would think actually an intentional mistake by a rouge mint employee) for this to happen, as someone would have to set up dies that shouldn't be going together and then not notice (and the mint control person would have to miss it too), if it were to be an innocent explanation.  Jim Lawniczak

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply.  Would a two-headed quarter weigh more than a standard quarter that has a head and an eagle or should they weigh the same?  How can I find out for certain if my coin is a 'fake' or a 'mistake' by the mint?

Answer
Kathy, I would assume that it would depend on how much of each quarter the maker of the joined quarter used.  These are not made by specifications.  Again, if you look on the edge and see a seam, you know for certain that your coin is put together.  If you don't see a seam, the only way to be sure is to show it to an expert either at a coin shop or a coin show.  Try going to www.google.com and doing searches for coin shop and your city, then coin show and your city and see what comes up, Jim Lawniczak