Heads, I win . . . . Tails, you lose . . . . . the Executive Decision Maker Thread!

ZoidMeister

Let me start out by stating I am NOT looking for anyone to post their "risque" examples of those little "decision maker" coin toss tokens.

There are bajillions of those, and quite frankly, unless they are historically / numismatically important, they are best left to fleaBay where they reside.

(That being out of the way . . . . .)

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Welcome to The Executive Decision Maker Thread

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I recently ran across one of those "heads / tails" "yes / no" executive decision maker / coin toss tokens the other day. The design of this one was quite intriguing. There are no makers marks, signatures, or text on this piece anywhere to identify it's maker.

The design of this is quite detailed. It looks like the work of a vintage die engraving craftsman and not the CNC machined stuff you see all too commonly today. it is quite high relief to boot.

On the "heads / YES" side are images of twelve (12) different animals. The seller of this piece listed them (from 12:00 o'clock) as"

1. Elephant
2. Parrot
3. Fish
4. Squirrel
5. Aligator
6. Bird
7. Horse
8. Peacock
9. Tiger
10. Lizzard
11. Snake
12. Rat
13. Ape
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    The reverse "tails / NO" side contains, well, the tails of the animals on the front. I have been wanting to start a thread on this type of exonumia for a while now. I can wait no further.

Post up your HEADS / TAILS, YES / NO, Executive Decision Maker flipping coins. I am interested to see the variety of designs out there.

Oh yeah, here is mine.

Z
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winesteven

Here’s mine. It has a bust of Teddy Roosevelt on the obverse, and Nathan Hale on the reverse. This way, when the coin is flipped in the air, one calls “Ted’s or Hale’s”.

Steve

coinsarefun

ZoidMeister

@winesteven said:
Here’s mine. It has a bust of Teddy Roosevelt on the obverse, and Nathan Hale on the reverse. This way, when the coin is flipped in the air, one calls “Ted’s or Hale’s”.

Steve

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Love it!

Z

ZoidMeister

This design is commonly seen from "Gus' Good Food" emporium in Chicago, Illinois, but was also used by used car sellers from Pennsylvania to Colorado.

This piece is a little more obscure. It is the store card from the die sinkers Meyer & Wenthe of Chicago, the creators of this design.

It's one of the more iconic "flipping coins."

Z
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Jzyskowski1

Doing an eBay search explains why you advised caution when posting 😂
Dang, looks like a walk through the XXX street in the big city 🤨🙀😂

ZoidMeister

Here is another that functions as a flipping coin, but not marked as such.

A souvenir of the 1901 Buffalo Exposition.

Z
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WAYNEAS

@ZoidMeister said:
Oh yeah, here is mine.

Z

Love your decision maker.
Where did you find it?
I would like to acquire one.
Thanks
Wayne

Herb_T

eBay has some decision makers…..

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2545226.m570.l1313&_nkw=decision+making+coin&_sacat=0

oih82w8

Thinking out loud, NO on both sides with YES on the edge of the round metallic object.

CaptHenway

@ZoidMeister said:
This design is commonly seen from "Gus' Good Food" emporium in Chicago, Illinois, but was also used by used car sellers from Pennsylvania to Colorado.

This piece is a little more obscure. It is the store card from the die sinkers Meyer & Wenthe of Chicago, the creators of this design.

It's one of the more iconic "flipping coins."

Z
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Meyer and Wenthe had their “mint” in a factory west of The Loop, but they had a small business office at 31 N. Clark St. from the late 20’s to the late 40’s. That address then became Ben’s Stamps & Coins, then Rarcoa, and now Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

DoubleEagle59

Well...here's an actual coin that's a great 'heads or tails' candidate..............

ZoidMeister

Wayne,

I got it during one of my frequent insomnia fueled 3:00am fleaBay search sessions. It came up as an "Other trinkets that you might be interested in" link at the bottom of the page.

I've searched, but couldn't find another. I would love to find more info on who and when it was made. The die engraving is definitely quality.

Z
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@WAYNEAS said:

@ZoidMeister said:
Oh yeah, here is mine.

Z

Love your decision maker.
Where did you find it?
I would like to acquire one.
Thanks
Wayne

ZoidMeister

Thanks much for the information chronology. I'll do some additional digging . . .

Z
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@CaptHenway said:

@ZoidMeister said:
This design is commonly seen from "Gus' Good Food" emporium in Chicago, Illinois, but was also used by used car sellers from Pennsylvania to Colorado.

This piece is a little more obscure. It is the store card from the die sinkers Meyer & Wenthe of Chicago, the creators of this design.

It's one of the more iconic "flipping coins."

Z
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Meyer and Wenthe had their “mint” in a factory west of The Loop, but they had a small business office at 31 N. Clark St. from the late 20’s to the late 40’s. That address then became Ben’s Stamps & Coins, then Rarcoa, and now Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

ZoidMeister

@oih82w8 said:
Thinking out loud, NO on both sides with YES on the edge of the round metallic object.

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That's the one my wife has . . . . .

. . . . and it has a razor edge . . .

Z

jesbroken

Got one coming but seller's pics were too blurry to show here. Will add it tomorrow or Monday.
Jim

1630Boston

Not mine and not nearly as 'cool' as yours @ZoidMeister but I like this one

tokenpro

If you are looking for this type of topical item on eBay or elsewhere you will have better results if you search for "flippers" as they are commonly called in exonumia circles rather than decision makers.

Somewhat often you will encounter flippers that are also "spinners" so you have two options to see who is buying dinner & drinks (actually three if you also play Queen Bee & the Numbers Game).

ZoidMeister

Much appreciated.

I have this one enroute. Pretty interesting design on it. Patent applied for too . . .

I wonder if they were awarded one . . . .

Better photos when it arrives.

Z
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@tokenpro said:
If you are looking for this type of topical item on eBay or elsewhere you will have better results if you search for "flippers" as they are commonly called in exonumia circles rather than decision makers.

Somewhat often you will encounter flippers that are also "spinners" so you have two options to see who is buying dinner & drinks (actually three if you also play Queen Bee & the Numbers Game).

JBK

Photo borrowed from the website of the maker, the ShirePost Mint. (This particular decision maker token is stacked in favor of the owner. ).

They also have another design that has some salty language and hand gestures. HELL YEAH and **** NO.

Meltdown

Neat thread idea. I'd like to share but mine is Marylin Monroe and inappropriate.

tokenpro

I'm not sure which Marilyn Monroe flipper you have but if anyone thinks the often encountered "Busty Betty" type flippers are inappropriate then don't search the Newman Portal for the type catalog of them that was published in an issue of the TAMS Journal a few years back.

ricko

I did not realize these were so popular.... I have seen a couple of types over the years....Though none as nice as the one pictured in the OP.... That is a real beauty. Cheers, RickO

coinsarefun

@ZoidMeister said:
Much appreciated.

I have this one enroute. Pretty interesting design on it. Patent applied for too . . .

I wonder if they were awarded one . . . .

Better photos when it arrives.

Z
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I really like this piece!!!

coinsarefun

Here’s one from 1915 Pan Pac Fair.

It was considered risqué back then. You can flip it over fast and get the idea

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ZoidMeister

It works well with the frame . . . .

I'll have to do a GIF one of these days.

Z
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@coinsarefun said:
Here’s one from 1915 Pan Pac Fair.

It was considered risqué back then. You can flip it over fast and get the idea

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WAYNEAS

Some very interesting pieces shown here.
Will search for one like @ZoidMeister has.

Wayne

nwcoast

Certainly some fun and cool pieces in here. Just stumbled on this in the bowels of my collection and deep in the recesses of my photo files.

dcarr

2windy2fish

I viewed this thread yesterday, today I am working through a box of misc coins/tokens and this pops up!!

ZoidMeister

Nice one! The automotive versions come up less frequently it seems.

I think this particular one is listed on Tokencatalog.com. I will check on that.

Z
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@2windy2fish said:


I viewed this thread yesterday, today I am working through a box of misc coins/tokens and this pops up!!

Jzyskowski1

Just got this one. Seller pictures 😉

WillieBoyd2

Here is a Decision Maker coin or "DecisionoMeter" from a 1960's California electronics company:

Pacific Mercury Electronics Decisionometer
Brass, 34 mm, 12.90 gm

Obverse text: DO IT! / PACIFIC MERCURY ELECTRONICS / THOMAS ORGAN CO.
Reverse text: DON'T DO IT! / DECISIONOMETER

The California-based Thomas Organ Company manufactured electric musical instruments and was owned by Pacific Mercury Electronics in the 1960's.

AMRC

Fun thread, thank you.

DNADave

An older one

ZoidMeister

Nice one!

Z
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@DNADave said:
An older one

Jzyskowski1

Forgot I put a bid on this and next thing I know, I won. Reasonable price and it’s advertising Meyer and Wenthe on the obverse. They are the producers. Pretty cool 😉

ZoidMeister

This guy came in several days ago. I just found time to photograph it.

Z
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