Two-headed coins don’t command but a few dollars for price.
And, instead of finding one in your pocket change and selling it for profit, you’re more likely to pay those few dollars to purchase one in a novelty, prank or magician’s shop.
That’s not to say people don’t find them… One of the most frequently asked questions is, "How much is my two-headed coin worth?"
Most people who ask are hoping they discovered an error coin that’s worth thousands of dollars. That’ll never be the case with modern U.S. coins.
How are two-headed or double-headed coins made?
Two-headed coins are made by seamlessly mating, back to back, two heads or two tails of the same type coin. These coins are then sold for tricks and gags or to performers.
The joining method is quite good. Aside from the double-sided aspect, the visual difference are usually undetectable from that of another coin.
It’s likely this very thing that results in the coins finding their way into circulation.
Another is someone buying one, say through a swap meet, and then later discovering it’s not worth what they thought and dropping it into circulation.
The U.S. Mint can’t produce two-headed coins even in error. And here’s how to detect a fake.
The very process by which the United State Mint makes coins prevents the possibility of a two-headed coin error.
A recent press release by Coinland.com about this very subject described it best. Allan Rosenberg, Coinland.com President, states:
“The U.S. Mint has built-in protections against accidentally making coins that have the improper die rotation or die setup. The shaft of the dies are made to be a certain size and shape, so that they will only fit into the coin presses a predetermined way. Consequently, any two-headed U.S. coin you find in pocket change is a novelty item. A surefire way to tell if the two-headed quarter is fake is to bounce it on the surface and hear the hollow sound. Because a fake two-headed quarter is basically hollow.”
How much or what is the real value or price of a two-headed coin?
If you visit eBay, you’ll find various double headed coins for under $10.
There are also companies online that specialize in this area. One example is PrankPlace.com.
There you can purchase a two-headed or double tailed quarter for $7.49. Their two-headed nickels are cheaper, currently priced at $4.29
But please, if you buy one, use it for fun and not to buy groceries.
I bought a 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Silver Dollar for just under $160.00 and so excited I did not notice the reverse side til almost two weeks later that it was a little Strange!!! The Reverse, which I have done research and they call it a Rotational Error? One person says worth more?? Anyways am I stuck with a coin no one would ever want? I saw another one on EBay and it looked like it was about 12 degrees off on the reverse! Mine it about 28 to 32 degrees off on the reverse. One time I spent a little… Read more »
30 degrees rotation can multiply the value by 3-5 fold. Good find!!!
this is sooo cool i actually have one in my hand right nowwww!!!!!!!!!
I just was going thru a roll of nickels a few days ago and come across a two-headed nickels, 1964 on one side, 1997 on the other side. And the “reverse” was oriented the same as the obverse, minus about 30°. Looking at the edge of the nickel, I cud see a “fusion line” most of the way around the nickel. What a shame, lmfao!
I have a question for whoever can answer…
I have a two headed quarter, one side is dated 1990 and the other side
Is dated 1980. You can see its clearly a mint error. I received
It from the bank. I went back into the bank to see if
the teller wanted it back but she left the booth so I kept it.
If anyone can tell me how much its worth I would greatly appreciate it
I had seen similar shows about it and know they can be bought for a good
Amount.
Melissa, the quarter is not a real mint error but an example of a two-headed coin as described above. The U.S. Mint has produced error coins with billions struck each year, but two-headed quarters with different dates is not a possible outcome due to the U.S. Mint production process.
I have a quarter that has two heads. Plus both side has the same year, 1997. However it seems fake and real. I dont really know too because the sound of dropping the coin is different from a regular coin that drop on the floor. One side looks like it was forced to be print…
I know that you are speaking of the double headed and 2 sided coins that are the same. My brother in law has a penny that is tails on both sides. It has the lincoln memorial on both sides and when you flip it over, instead of the words being upside down, they are right side up. He claims that at the bank when he got it, around 30 years ago, that it came from a new roll of pennies. Apparently he’s saying that it wasn’t a roll of coins rolled by an individual. Taking into consideration what you’re saying… Read more »
I have a two headed lincoln penny. It has in god we trust at the top of the penny and 1970 and a letter under the 1970. It is the same on the other side. I like to know have much is it worth.
I have a 1989 penny that has 2 heads identical on both sides. They say it isn’t worth anything but looks very real
I got a double headed 1964 kennedy half in change yesterday at the bank. It looks real? I have collected coins for years and not seen one. Does anyone have any feedback?
Whether pennies, nickels, Kennedy halves, or any other denomination, there will never be a two-headed coin that comes out of the U.S. Mint. They way coins are produced makes it impossible. See:
http://www.coinnews.net/2014/01/13/how-the-denver-mint-makes-coins-for-circulation/
http://www.coinnews.net/2013/09/20/how-the-philadelphia-mint-makes-coins-for-circulation/
I recently got a penny in my change that is rather unique. It is stamped tails on one side and heads on the other side like a normal penny but here is where it is unique. On the heads side, it has the tails stamp over Lincolns head. You can very easily see that tails has been stamped over top of heads. I curious to know if this is a minting error and if it has any value. I would appreciate any info on this. Thank you very much!
Why all these questions? Doesn’t anyone ever first read the article. Sheesh, the answer is there
I know it has been a while since this article came out but I just found what I have to guess is one of these props. On one side, there is a regular 1950 penny head. The other side is a 1944S penny head. The bounce test revealed that it is not as solid as a regular 1952 penny and a digital scale also revealed it to be lighter. But is the age of the penny any factor in determining worth for this one?
Bummed a bit about realizing the 2 headed nickel I just found isn’t worth anything. But it was kind of cool to have found. Not sure how out of all the coins that have passed through my hands over 56 years that I just happened to notice this one. Imagine what else I’ve could have missed. Any way, I’ll just mention that my magician coin seems to be fairly old, it used a 1940 and a 1949 coin to be made.
Hello, I have read all posts so I understand what is being said……I have came across a US Quarter Double Headed as well…..I wont go into detail about discription at the moment. Just need a bit of help for the sound drop test. I Dropped a regular quater on my floor at home on its flat side…..it PINGD….then I dropped the dbl headed quarter the same way…..it however did Not Ping. It was more like a flat thump sound…..but is that what you mean by hollow sound? Just wanting to make sure I am understanding the sound test. More then… Read more »
I’ve found a double headed Kennedy half dollar and both sides are 1980 D. I did the sound drop and compared it to a real one and they sound exactly the same. Am I somehow doing it wrong? Sorry if this seems like a stupid question. 🙂
I found a printed double sided wheat penny dated 1941.
I found it buried deep in the ground next to the train tracks.
It is not hollow.
I thought it was interesting to find a double head with 1916-1917 liberty quarter. Its still unique even tho its obviously fake from what I read here
What brought me here was finding a double headed liberty nickel among my father’s things. I think the article could have been written about me as I thought I had found the find of the century! Sadly, I realize that’s not the case; however, the nickels are dated 1888 and 1889. Other than a novelty, is there any value in the age of the coin?
NL – Read the article and you shall find your answer.
Well, in 1970 I was given a 1970 double headed nickel, and a 1970 double tailed nickel by someone who said he worked at the mint, (DC) Never thought much about them possibly being fakes, just figured they struck them because they could. So just assuming they were real, what would the value have been today?
2000 gold dollar Sacagawea one with both heads one with both tails/no date … Whats the value or where do I locate such information
With all of these different coins that are made and considered fake why aren’t the people that are making them considered counter fitters??
I made my 2 headed coins, machined em in a Lathe, then super glued the 2 halves together. Work good when flipping coins for a bet!!