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#REDIRECT ] |
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{{dablink|For the film, see ].}} |
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{{RCat shell| |
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'''Heads or Tails''' is a coin-tossing ]. |
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{{R to section}} |
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{{R with history}} |
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Most ]s have a side where the imprint of a person, such as a current or former ], is impressed — this side is called the "heads" side (since the embossing is of the head of a person). The other side may have any imprint, or none, and is called the "tails" side. Technically, the heads and tails sides are known as the ], respectively. |
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In 1870 ] describes heads in a similar way and details tails as being the opposite and obvious reverse to heads. The expression 'can't make head nor tail of it' expresses this concept of opposites. |
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Generally, one person throws the coin up in the air, and the second person must predict which side of the coin will lay face up after it rests back on the ground. A correct prediction results in a win. Another variation has the person catch the coin in one hand and slap it on the back of their other hand. Traditionally, the second person calls out "heads" or "tails" while the coin is in the air. The Australian coin flipping protocol generally requires the coin to start in a 'tails up' attitude. |
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The ]n game of ] is closely related, and involves traditionally two half-pennies. Coin flipping as a game was known to the Romans as "navia aut caput" (''ship or head''), as some coins had a ] on one side and the head of the ] on the other. |
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A related game, ''Cross and Pile'', was played in England for many centuries. The cross was the major design element on one side of many coins, and the Pile was the bottom part of the die used to cast the other side of the coin (see ]). ''Cross and Pile'' is derived from the Greek pastime called ''Ostrakinda'', played by the boys of ancient Greece. Having procured a shell, they smeared it over with pitch on one side and left the other side white. A boy tossed up this shell, and his antagonist called white or black (In the ], ''nux kai hemera'', that is, 'night or day') as he thought proper, and his success was determined by the white or black part of the shell being uppermost. |
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In Italy this game is called ''Testa o croce'', in Spain ''Cara o cruz'' and in Catalonia the game is called ''Cara o Creu'' (all "head or cross"). In Germany the game is called ''Kopf oder Zahl'' ("head or number", because the other side shows the coin's value). In ] it is usually called ''Heads or Harps'', since the reverse side of Irish coins (both ] and the former currency, the ]) always shows a ]. In ], it is called '''Cara ou Coroa''' ("face or crown"). On Brazilian coins, one of the sides are called '''Cara'''(marked with a face); the other side is called '''Coroa'''(crown, or another symbol). In ] it is called '''Aguila o Sol''' (Eagle or Sun). In ] it is called '''Орёл или ре́шка''' ('''Oryól ili réshka''' - eagle, or another symbol). In Hong Kong, it is called 公定字 ("Head or word"). On Hong Kong coins, the obverse side of the coin is basically words that said the amount of the coin. The reverse side, however, is flower. Although the reverse side is not a head anymore, Hong Kong citizens still use that term to call the game. In ] '''kron''' denotes the side that shows the kings profile, while '''mynt''' is the side that showns the coins value. Swedes use '''krona eller klave''' ("crown or hoof"), as old Swedish coinage depicted the regent (or the insignia of the regent) on the obverse (the word "crown" often being used to mean the king), and a highly stylized heraldic shield, reminding people of a hoof, on the reverse. In Israel the game is called '''Ets o Pally''' ("tree or Pally"). This name originates in the time of the ] when the coins bore the value of the coin with an olive branch on one side and the name Palestine on the other. Today Pally usually refers to the value side of the Israeli coins, while Ets refers to the other side. |
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== See also == |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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