Expert: PAPAJACK - 11/13/2007

Question
I have a 2006 Return to Monticello nickel that has Jefferson of 1800 on both sides. I am interested in the possible value of such a coin.
Thanks

Answer
Hello Brenda,                        

Double headed or two tailed coins are not a mint product and therefore not valued by collectors.

They exist for coin tosses or fooling friends doing magic tricks etc… Look at the edge carefully. Using a good magnifier and light source, where the lower fields on one side of the coin, meets up to the raised rim edge, you should see a seam. They can be force fit or glued together. Another check is weight; an actual nickel blank weighs 5 grams.

The process the mint uses does not allow for a heads die to fit into the tail side of a coin press. Or tail side coins die to fit into the heads side of the press.

Unfortunately they are not rare and it is not an error coin.
I have seen them in Quarters, Half Dollars and Nickels. These two headed, or Two Tailed coins are indeed 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.

Again these coins are made sometimes as a novelty to sell, to fool people on a coin toss, or a machinist 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.

I hope this information is helpful.

Feel free to ask another question about US Coins.

Good Luck

PapaJack