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Double Headed 20c Australian

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New Member

Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  04:00 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hi guys,
Can anyone enlighten me on this 20cent piece please?
A friend found this years ago in a pub's pool table.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/...20c19761.jpg
Double-Headed-20c-Australian

Cheers.
New Member
Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  04:11 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Sorry, here's the reverse.
Valued Member
dibby33's Avatar
Australia
465 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  04:41 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dibby33 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Firstly I would put it in a safe place in case you spend it!
Can you post a photo of the coin showing the edge (side view) and then I will let somebody with more experience on this subject answer.
Pillar of the Community
Peter THOMAS's Avatar
Australia
2830 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  05:19 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Peter THOMAS to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
G'day, the top photo appears to have a seam inside the rim.
This suggests to me that -
Step 1: a coin has been turned on a lathe, so that the reverse image is removed and a depression created, but the rim is left intact.
Step 2: A second coin has been ground so that the rim is removed, and the reverse ground away, sufficient for Step 3.
Step 3: the second coin, now of reduced diameter & thickness is inserted into the depression of the first coin. They are held together by glue or solder.
This method means that the rim is intact, and examination of the rim reveals no signs of what has occurred.
I gather that in the processes of turning, grinding, etc, that sufficient metal is lost, so that, most likely, the resulting piece will be underweight. It would be interesting to know what weight this piece is.

Peter in Darwin.

Valued Member
dibby33's Avatar
Australia
465 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  06:07 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dibby33 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That was exactly why I was asking for somebody with more experience! I asked for the rim shot because I thought that it was a cut and shut job!
New Member
Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  06:33 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for that guys.
My friend should be calling in tomorrow, so I'll get the shots for you to see.
I also have some gold scales, so I'll even weigh it and let you know.
Thanks again, much appreciated.
Actually, I haven't bothered with boards since ebay closed the topic, and it's nice to know there's somewhere else to go. :)
Bedrock of the Community
Bryan1315's Avatar
United States
14454 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  07:44 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bryan1315 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I made a circle around where the seam is at. Look above the red line (even though its rough because I was in a hurry) and you can see where the two coins were places together, this is what in the US we call a Magicians coin where they hollow out one coin and machine down another and place the two heads together making it a double headed coin

Double-Headed-20c-Australian
New Member
Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  08:35 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I see what you're saying bryan. I'd never thought of the magician theory. :)
So even if the rim is intact, it could be this theory.
Thank you also, dibby and peter.
Valued Member
dibby33's Avatar
Australia
465 Posts
 Posted 10/14/2009  9:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dibby33 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
with regards to real double headed coins...

Has it always been true that both side of a coin are shapped (minted - not sure of the correct wording) at the same time.
and when did they stop using single side printing techniques? i.e. up until when would you be able to get a real accidently made double sided coin?


New Member
Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  04:27 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Back again with pics of the rim.
Cheers.

Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Double-Headed-20c-Australian
Pillar of the Community
Australia
1295 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  05:25 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add markn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Its a Magicians coin. Peter Thomas and Bryan hit the nail on the head. Put a coin on a lathe and machine out the reverse leaving the rim intact. Put another coin on the lathe and machine off the reverse side completely and then the rim from the remainder. Then fit the cut down coin into the hollow made in the first coin. Another give away would be the two sides of the coin not being 180 degrees out of alignment, Australian coins of this era with genuine double heads/tails are always 180 degrees out of alignment.
New Member
Australia
7 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  07:31 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add clyve to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yes mark, it certainly seems to be a Magician's coin.
My friend and I are so disappointed because we thought it was a unique error. :(
New Member
neild's Avatar
Australia
22 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  4:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add neild to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi Clyve,
a Double headed coin seems to be a swear word amongst some(see my post on double headed 5c)a good test for these coins is a dye penetrate crack test, works very well and will certainly bring out a join if there is one, engineering/mechanics workshops may be able to help you out. By the way great find, I like to be positive about these things, its real until proven otherwise :)
Bedrock of the Community
Bryan1315's Avatar
United States
14454 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  6:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bryan1315 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Oh believe me I am not saying I know for a fact this is a Magicians coin, I was just pointing out what looks like a seam and if in fact it is a seam its what we call a magician coin. The reason I even said its a seam is because one side shows what I pointed out and the other side doesn't show that same characteristic
New Member
neild's Avatar
Australia
22 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  7:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add neild to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi Bryan,
just tyring to offer Clyve some support, I went through exactly the same thing earlier this year, I Know what he will be up against, not people on here but the wider Australian numismatic community treated me as a thief or a schemer at best. I hope Clyve has a much better experience
Pillar of the Community
jokingjoker's Avatar
United States
2150 Posts
 Posted 10/15/2009  7:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jokingjoker to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hey neild did you ever get any confirmation on your coin?
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