Hi I found this what appears to be a double headed penny in my granddads collection is it worth a closer look or just the work of a dodgy Victorian ?? Im just asking for some info so go easy on me pls Its a keeper anyway!
What you have is a magician's coin wherein two separate coins were milled and assembled to have a head on each side. It's worth a closer look in the sense there could be something interesting inside of the penny if both sides were hollowed out (perhaps a smaller coin or some such). Look for a seam and see if you can wedge the two sides apart. As to it being done by a dodgy Victorian, it is possible it was done during the Victorian era but it could have just as easily been done before or after this time period. We'll be unlikely to ever know when unless something interesting turns up inside that offers an indication of when it may have been done.
It doesn't look like it will come apart. The top pic shows some places that look like someone tried to pry it apart. The other pic looks like the edges have been folded over? and maybe even soldered? Still a cool coin, considering what it's made from.
