Four Coin Flips That Changed History

Coin flipping as a game was known to the Romans as navia aut caput (ship or head), as some coins had a ship on one side and the head of the emperor on the other. In England, this game was referred to as cross and pile.

Nowadays, flipping a coin has become the ultimate unbiased decision maker. Calling it in the air often settles friendly disputes over who gets the last slice of pizza or whether to go to the movies or bowling on Friday night. Here are four big decisions that came down to a simple question: Heads or tails?