The original is kept on file with the clerk, Dept of Health, registrar or the like-- the only thing you can get is a certified copy. They aren't going to give you the original from their files.
Many people refer to a copy of the long form as the original, and the short little one as the certified copy. I was assuming they were asking long form vs short form, not the original to a copy.
I will edit the post to use the proper terms instead some of the common ones to avoid any confusion.