Warning! Contains Spoilers For Two-Face #4!

Every Two-Face's coin with a heartbreaking change. The coin has had a few origins over the years, but DC just went back to the absolute darkest, and there's no way fans will ever be able to look at it the same again.

...it’s a relief to see a modern comic finally solidify this as the definitive backstory.

Nearly every member of Batman's rogues gallery has a rich backstory explaining why they became who they are, but perhaps the best example of this is Two-Face. The coin that defines him has had various origins over the years, but DC has now solidified the darkest and most tragic version in Two-Face #4 by Christian Ward and Fabio Veras.

This issue delves deep not only into Harvey Dent’s fractured personality but also into the heartbreaking origin of his coin. Though this origin has been explored before, this new version cements it as a permanent, defining part of Two-Face’s character.

Harvey Dent's Abusive Father Is The Origin Of Two-Face

Two-Face #4 by Christian Ward, Fabio Veras, Ivan Plascencia, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

It turns out that as a child, Harvey suffered from major indecisiveness. He was completely unable to make choices, which often resulted in his father getting irritated at his son for being unable to decide what he wanted. Finally, fed up with his son, Harvey's father began using a double-sided coin to decide whether he should beat his son or not. The coin somehow always managed to come up yes. This trauma would be Harvey's first experience with using a coin to make choices, and it was an experience that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

This is a great, tragic backstory for Harvey, and it's way better than the original origin of the coin. Back in the day, when Harvey Dent was still named Harvey Kent, the coin was completely unrelated to Harvey's father. Instead, the silver dollar was the signature accessory of noted crime boss Sal Moroni. Harvey found this coin at a crime scene, which linked Sal to the crime. Harvey thought he was finally going to put the mob boss away for life, but instead, he was attacked with acid, scarring his face and transforming him into Two-Face, who later took the coin for his own.

Harvey's Updated Origin Is Way Better Than His Original

Detective Comics #66 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, George Roussos, and Ira Schnapp

The original origin of Two-Face just doesn’t carry the same emotional weight as this updated version. While the acid attack remains an iconic part of his backstory and still plays a pivotal role here, it’s the introduction of the silver dollar in his childhood that truly strengthens the narrative. It never quite made sense why Harvey would continue using the silver dollar after his confrontation with Moroni. Sure, it worked as a mockery of Moroni before his death, but why keep using it afterward?

Tying the coin to Harvey’s childhood makes much more sense, as it reflects his lifelong struggle with indecisiveness. It’s clear that, as a child, Harvey would need something to help him make decisions, a problem that haunted him throughout his life. The addition of his father mocking him while introducing the coin perfectly explains why Harvey would continue using it as an adult—and why it becomes central to his criminal persona. The revelation that it was "Bad Harvey," his alternate personality, who took the beatings adds a layer of complexity. While Harvey himself rarely uses the coin, it’s always Two-Face who relies on it.

Harvey Dent Has Always Been One Of Batman's Most Tragic Villains

Two-Face's Updated Origin Makes Him All the More Tragic

With DC’s ever-shifting continuity, keeping track of what remains canon can be challenging. The origin of Two-Face’s coin—tracing it back to Harvey’s abusive father—isn’t new. It was first explored in Batman Annual #14 by Andrew Helfer and Chris Sprouse, released in 1990. However, given the numerous continuity reboots since then, it’s a relief to see a modern comic finally solidify this as the definitive backstory. Harvey’s father was the one who first introduced him to the coin, and with this issue cementing it, it’s unlikely DC will change that anytime soon.

Harvey Dent has always been one of Batman’s most tragic villains, made even more heartbreaking by the fact that he and Bruce Wayne were actually friends in several interpretations. At one point, Batman even considered telling Harvey his secret identity before anyone else. In some versions, they even met as children at a facility for troubled kids, their lives intertwined long before fate turned them into enemies. That’s why giving Harvey an origin just as tragic as Bruce’s is such a brilliant decision. Everyone knows Two-Face’s coin as his defining gimmick, but after this revelation, fans will never look at it the same way again.

Two-Face #4 is on sale now from DC Comics!