Howdy, folks! I must say, this might be the most excited I have been for a Friday blog, so far. As I’ve said before, I’m a total fan girl of coins. But, perhaps my favorite thing to exist in the world is…football. College football, to be exact.
Technically the season began yesterday, but tomorrow I get to see my boys play- the Aggies. If you’re not a fan, don’t stop reading! This blog is not about Texas A&M (whoop). Combining my two loves, football and coins, is simple. Before every game begins, possession and field advantage is determined by a coin toss. The outcome of this could have significant ramifications on the game. Some teams need that initial scoring drive down the field to get momentum going. Some teams need a fast scoring second half start to rally and make a comeback. Sure, the 60 minutes on the field are most important, but winning the coin toss might give you the edge to get that “W.”
To give you a little history on the tradition of “flipping a coin,” we go back to the Ancient Romans. They began a practice called “navia aut caput,” meaning “ship or head.” Coins at that time bore a ship on one side and the portrait of the emperor on the other. Individuals settled bets and disputes with the flip of a coin. At this time, however, players did not call out their prediction of the winning side. The practice dictated that a player was assigned “heads,” and if the coin flipped landed on heads, they won. Because the emperor was the “head” on the coin, it was thought the emperor agreed with his stance if the coin landed heads up. Tails always indicated a loss.
Later, the practice traveled to England, where it was known as “cross or pile.” The British coins at the time displayed a cross on the obverse of a coin and a “pile” (i.e. pier, beam, column) on the reverse. Englishmen played games, using this method to determine winners in event of a tie.
Throughout history, the practice of determining one’s fate underwent many name changes, based on the currency being used. The first instance of the coin flip being referred to as “heads or tails,” was in 1684 by playwright, Thomas Otway in his work, “The Atheist;” he wrote, “…as boys do with their farthings…go heads or tails for ’em.”
Since then, the flip of a coin has been used to determine a multitude of decisions- some trivial and some of significant importance. Did you know the owner of Secretariat, the Triple Crown winning racehorse, was decided by a coin toss? Or that Portland, Oregon was a losing coin flip away from being named Boston? Even the Wright Brothers determined who made the first attempt at flight with a coin toss.
Today, we still use the practice of flipping a coin to determine a myriad of things- my favorite being used in football. Do you still flip a coin to decide winners? Have you ever won or lost something significant because of a coin toss? Do you have a lucky coin for the occasion? Can you find me a two-headed coin to cheat with? Let me know in the comments!
I think the 90% Silver Kennedy Half Dollars look like the perfect coin to use in my next coin toss battle. And, they are on sale!
Happy Stacking!
-J
Jeff Smith says
I inherited a coin from my grandfather that he brought back from the Pacific after W W I I . Heads is a naked womans front tails, the same woman’s butt. Enjoy reading your piece. Bought some 90% Kennedy`s that are on the way. JDS
ProvidentMetals.com says
Interesting choice for a coin flip! Haha. Enjoy your silver!
-J
Kurtsbestfriend says
Thankfully, I have not lost anything of significance in a coin-toss, but I’ve been told only to pick up “found” coins that are lying face-up. Apparently heads-up brings good luck, and tails…well, not-so-good-luck. Hmm, does that make winning the, “Heads-up!” call an omen of good luck?
I hope that your TA&M Aggies have a winning season filled with an abundance of winning coin tosses!
ProvidentMetals.com says
I think it does! I’ll go with that anyway. 😀
And, thank you! We started with a bang!
-J
kleinjr7@gmail.com says
How much silver is in the American silver dollar?
Or which American silver dollar has a guaranteed one ounce of silver?
What is the difference between an American silver eagle selling at 23.08 and same at 22.18?
ProvidentMetals.com says
There is .7734 troy ounces of silver in each silver dollar. You may be thinking of the American Silver Eagle, which has one ounce of .999 fine silver. The price difference in the American Silver Eagles correlates to the market. It’s a little harder, and more costly for us to supply back date eagles.
R.L. says
The character Two-Face always used a coin flip to make his decisions. I always found that interesting.
ProvidentMetals.com says
It makes for simple odds for those of us whose math skills might be lacking…
-J