Two heads aren’t better than one

I had a recent telephone call from someone who said he had a 1965 proof set. I asked if what he had might be a 1965 Special Mint Set because…

I had a recent telephone call from someone who said he had a 1965 proof set.

I asked if what he had might be a 1965 Special Mint Set because no proof sets were made in 1965. The caller didn’t answer. He simply said it was a cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar.

What the set was apparently was of no never mind to him. He didn’t seem to care one way or another, proof or SMS.

What he did care about was the half dollar. It had two heads.

Now I have had calls like this before.

I jumped right in and said two-headed coins are privately made from two genuine coins. They are called magician’s coins.

The caller didn’t like that answer.

Who can tell me what it is, he asked?

I know he meant he wanted me to tell him who he could show the piece to so he could sell it for a million dollars.

I wouldn’t be very popular with coin dealers if I sent two-headed coin owners to them. I simply repeated that it was a magician’s coin and such pieces were quite common.

The caller wasn’t going to give up, but I eventually tired him out.

I expect the caller will attempt to find a coin dealer to show it to.

To that poor unfortunate dealer, I say, “Sorry, I tried.”