# Yet Another Football Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 1999, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-football-question/5036 "1999-11-30T19:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-football-question/5036/1 "1999-11-30T19:33:00Z")
OK - The Coin Toss: Does the NFL have some sort of regulation as to what coin the official is supposed to toss? Does it specify a quarter, nickel, etc., or possibly even some coin comissioned by the NFL just for this purpose? Or is he just supposed to toss whatever is in his pocket (assuming he has something in his pocket; we’ve all seen that funny SouthWest Airlines commercial)? ---
**Author:** ![starfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@starfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starfish)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-football-question/5036/2 "1999-11-30T20:39:00Z")
They probably always use a special coin. I know they use a special coin for the Super Bowl. There is usually a write up on it in the paper. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-football-question/5036/3 "1999-12-01T00:38:00Z")
For regular season games, I believe the NFL uses a metal slug that says “HEADS” on one side and “TAILS” on the other. Don’t try to use it to buy gum. ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-football-question/5036/4 "1999-12-01T09:58:00Z")
I always thought they used half dollars for the coin toss.