POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

The gambling game of 'two-up' was derived from the British game of 'pitch and toss' whose simplicity requiring only coins ensured its popularity endured and developed from early convict days. It became so popular that two-up acquired the status of a national game - a reputation that ignored its illegality - and which became further entrenched in the predominantly masculine environments of the goldfields and the Australian armed forces during World War I and II. The inclusion of a double-sided coin ensured the cheating player could be assured of a win. In the case of 'two-up', money was wagered on varying combinations of single and multiple tosses of two or three pennies thrown from a wooden paddle or 'kip'. The coins had to be tossed at least 10 feet (4 metres) high in the air and fall within a circle marked on the ground. To improve visibility of the result of a toss in two-up the head side was polished to a shine or painted with a cross, while the tail side was left with its natural darker colour achieved with circulation. The owner of the game (the boxer) had on offer pennies of different monarchs sometimes known by nick-names - Queenies (Victoria), Baldies (Edward VII), George V, and George VI. A double headed penny was especially useful in two-up because 'So long as the spinner keeps showing heads, he can continue to throw' because it was only after three tossing three sets of heads that winnings could be collected (Peter Charlton 1987 p258). It is assumed that this coin was used in two-up because of the advantage a heads result gave in that game. However, this particular coin has its original dark patina from normal circulation rather than a polished surface and so could possibly have been used for cheating in other coin-tossing games. However, while the chance of monetary reward was increased by the inclusion of a double-headed penny in the toss, the risk of detection had its dangers as seen with deserting Australian soldiers captured by their own forces in France, 1918, "' . . . when searching B we took a double-headed penny off of him.' Discovery of a double-headed penny would almost ensure that the culprit was treated to some summary justice from the soldiers; under these circumstances the wise officer looked the other way and intervened only if the prisoner's life was threatened." (Peter Charlton 1987 p258). Paul Donnelly, curator design, history and society Refs. Charles Pickett, 'Gambling in Australia: thrills, spills, and social ills', Powerhouse Publishing, Sydney, 2004. Peter Charlton, 'Two flies up a wall: the Australian passion for gambling', North Ryde, 1987 pp257-275. Australian War Memorial website: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/two_up/index.asp GAMBLING (TWO-UP) ACT 1998 (As at 13 December 2007 - Act 115 of 1998): http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ga1998168/