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Revision as of 12:15, 30 August 2003 by Dysprosia (talk | contribs) (reword some)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Heads or Tails is a coin-tossing game.
Most coins have a side where the imprint of a person, such as a monarch is impressed - this side is called the "Head" side (since the embossing is of the head of a person). The other side may have any imprint, or none, and is called the "Tail" side.
Generally, one person throws the coin up in the air, and the second person must predict which side of the coil will lay face up after it rests back on the ground. A correct prediction results in a win.
The Australian game of Two up is closely related, and involves traditionally two half-pennies.
A related game, "Cross and Pile" is derived from the Greek pastime called Ostra Kinda, 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 as he thought proper, and his success was determined by the white or black part of the shell being uppermost.
See also: gambling