I have been researching the coins from a box of "coins of interest" that I have accumulated in the last 35 years. I have read the stories about two headed or tailed coins, but I am willing to submit my find for your review. My find appears to be an Italian coin. surrounding the left facing bust of Victor Emanuel III is the legend "VITT.EM.III" to the left of the bust and "RE.E.IMP" to the right of the Bust. I found pictures of 10 c 1939-1943 victor emanuel in bronze. ( pictures 3 &4) My coin is about the same size as a US nickel (1983) but slightly thinner, with similar coloring. What do you think? What is it?
The obverse(s) seem to match KM#74/74a, a copper or aluminum-bronze 10 Centesimi issued from 1936-43. They are very slightly wider than a US nickle. Chances are it was produced from two of those in either the standard magician's coin method of hollowing one out and machining another one down to fit the space; or the less common method of shaving the reverses off of two coins and gluing them together. Using a high-magnification glass, or a microscope, carefully examine the coin looking for either a cut line just inside the rim, or a joint line on the edge. Krause doesn't give a weight, so if possible the coin should be compared with a known genuine example of whichever metallic composition is invovlved. (Al-bronze generally has a Sacagawea dollar-like coloration). The "ring" test might help also. Although neeither copper nor al-bronze sounds like a silver coin, they do make a clear metallic sound, while altered coins generally "thud".
I think it may just be someones attempt at play. It looks like a lead cast where someone used the obverse to make a mold. There seems to be some extra metal over some of the letters that indicates the metal was poured. Bill
two heads I have read the posts and I fully expected that this coin would be a fake. But from the explinations I can not understand how the coin could be put tp gether with the face on both sides facing left. To clarify if you are looking at side one the bust is facing left. If you are looking at side 2 the bust is facing left. If I were to slice identical two coins seperating the obverse from the reverse and then joined both heads together one side would be facing left and the other facing right. Right? It would seem that the same would hold true if it were created from a mold of a coin. Unless coins exist of thie same size with the image facing left on one coin and right on another.???? I still believe it is likely a fake... but I would like to understand the method.
Yes it would be and it is, but when you turn the coin to look at the other side - then it is facing left.
If that confuses you, try looking at both sides of the coin in a mirror. Then if both sides of the person on the coin is facing right, the mirror has been tampered with. Now look at any coin you have. If there is a person's face on the coin and they are facing left and you turn the coin around and ask someone on the other side of the coin which way is the person on the coin facing, they will also say left. That means if you took two of those coins and pasted them together, the person on the coin would always be facing left on both sides of the coin. Unless the person you asked is a liar and then you would never know for sure.
I have an IDENTICAL coin to the one you have posted. I purchaseda coin lot and it was among the foreign coins. It intrigued me for the fact itwas double faced. I looked the coin up in the "Standard Catalog of WorldCoins" which not only lists every coin made but also gives an exact size,composition and mintage. The coin is identical in size and markings to a 1936RItalian 50 Lire coin BUT the composition is clearly not gold as the Lire are.No other coins match the size, composition or markings. When I examined the coin under magnification I noticed itwas joined together on the worn, reeded edge and even had signs of residual solder.As with the other posts I can assume it was not a minted coin because of thepitting and roughness of the low areas and the lettering is "rough"with fragments of the material it was made of that appears to have ran when thecoin was cast. It also appears the coin was not pressed as a planchet butappears to be cast in a dye. It also has a distinctive sound when dropped thatdoes not match any coin material. I can assume that this coin is a novelty coin, but I am neithera numismatistnor a professional coin grader this coin does have intrigue and a conversationpiece worthy of my collection. If anyone has more info on our coins it would benice to hear what you have to add. Thank you!
I have the same exact coin as well. It has 2 heads on each side. If you hold it upright and spin it from right to left both faces do face left... interested if anyone has more info
I'm interested..I just found the same exact coin in my change that i received from a store. Wondering why it has two heads and no date stamped on it.
I'm interested..I just found the same exact coin with two heads in some spare change from the store..no date or year posted on it. Looks authentic. Have you found any more information about It?
