Coin magic is a general term for feats of conjuring employing one or more coins which are manipulated so as to deceive and baffle the audience. Because it is focused on physically small objects, much of coin magic is classed as close-up magic or table magic, as the audience must be close to the performer to see the effects. Stage conjurors generally cannot use coin effects. Coin magic is generally considered harder to master than other close-up techniques such as card magic, and is one of the least performed forms of conjuring. Coin magic requires great skill and grace to perform convincingly, and this takes a lot of practice to acquire. Magician redirects here. ... A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government, to be used as a form of money in transactions. ... Magician redirects here. ... Lance Cpl. ...

Why coins?

Coin magic is highly respected among magicians, and is well received among all audiences and all ages. Illusions with coins often have a significant impact on the spectator because coins are such common objects, people handle them every day, and they will tend to have less suspicion that the coin is gimmicked. As such, coin magic easily allows for the two qualities that make up ideal magic effects: interaction with the audience combined with startling visual illusions. Coins are also power symbols, and this allows people to feel more of a connection to the illusion, especially when the illusion is performed with a borrowed coin. Conjurors like to have in their repertoire some effects which can be performed with any common coin, as these can be shown impromptu, on demand, in the street, in a bar, or at a social occasion, without the need to carry any magic props in case the opportunity comes to give entertainment. Such spontaneous performances often have a strong impact. Magic, including the arts of prestidigitation and conjuring, is the art of entertaining an audience by performing illusions that baffle and amaze, often by giving the impression that something impossible has been achieved, almost as if the performer had magic or supernatural powers. ... This article is about the phenomenon known as an illusion. ...

The basic elements of coin magic

There is a large variety of coin effects published in the conjuring literature, and much ingenuity has gone into developing each effect, but a high proportion of them can be reduced to a few basic elements — such as vanishes, productions, tranformations and transpositions — combined in some order to produce the magical mystery. A simple effect might involve borrowing a coin, making it vanish, palming it for a time, then producing it again unexpectedly, and returning it to the owner. More complex effects may involve multiple coins; substituting or switching coins; and manipulating other objects (eg. handkerchiefs, glasses, etc) as well as the coins. However, the power of most coin magic lies in its simplicity and the solidity of the object; the basic skills of sleight of hand, misdirection, often appear most magical in the absence of complex equipment. Almost any audience will be amazed by the simplest mystery, such as passing a coin through a table. Raymond W. Kelly is seen here wearing a handkerchief in his left-breast pocket. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Sleight-of-hand, also known as legerdemain, is a technique of close-up magic in which small items are concealed in and around the performers hands, sometimes by the use of misdirection, to enhance the illusion being performed. ...

Performance

Although some coin magic depends on a gimmick (e.g., such special equipment as a coin box, hollow coin shells, coins stuck together, oversized coins, folding coins, etc.), even such gimmicks do not entirely automate the magical effect. Producing a memorable mystery requires significant skill in presenting the effect, delivering the patter, distracting the audience from the secret of the gimmick, and manipulating the equipment without arousing suspicion about the true method of operation. A performer who relies entirely on special equipment will not impress an audience. Many people are more impressed by an effect which depends (or seems to depend) entirely on skillful manipulation and misdirection, than by an effect which appears to depend to some extent on specially made props. A performer who has mastered the basic skills can nonetheless use gimmicks in one's routine to good effect, without it being obvious to the audience. A gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something stand out from its contemporaries. ... Patter is a glib rapid speech, that accompanies and comments some actions, e. ...

Palming

The most basic skill usually learned by beginners is palming a coin. Palming is the general term for carrying and concealing one or more coins in the hand so that the hand looks and behaves like an empty hand. There are several palming techniques, and the choice will depend on the size and type of coin to be concealed, the preceding and following manipulations, and personal preference. A good practitioner should master several palming methods, and be able to palm a coin in both hands. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Palming is a technique for holding or concealing an object in the hand. ...

The simplest technique (the classic palm) is to place a coin flat on the palm and grip it lightly between the base of the thumb muscle and the little finger muscle. To begin with, use a large but light coin, such as a Kennedy half dollar or pre-1972 English penny. Grip it only just enough to make the coin stay in place when the palm is face down. The hand appears empty and can be used freely and convincingly. Smaller or heavier coins are harder to palm, but the skill can be acquired with practice. In order to make the hand look natural, the magician uses it to pick up objects, point, snap the fingers, or to handle other coins, while ensuring that the spectator cannot see a metallic flash at any time during these movements. These misdirections signal to the audience that the hand is empty. The acting skills involved in making the hand move naturally and appear empty, are the hardest part of the palming skill. Obverse Reverse Evolving from the Franklin half dollar, the Kennedy half dollar is a coin of the United States first minted in 1964. ... For silver pennies produced after 1820 see Maundy money. ... Acting is the work of an actor or actress, a person in theatre, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play. ...

Common beginner errors

Common beginners errors include holding the coin too high up in the palm (too close to the finger joints), which requires an obvious inward curl to grip the coin, giving away the secret. Beginners must practice not only the actual palm grip, but getting the coin into the palm and out again without fumbling; misdirection actions; and building the skill into a routine.

If you have big hands, it may be more difficult to palm a coin. Or, if you can, it might be very obvious.

It can be useful to hold a pen, wand or small object to make the hand appear more natural.

Getting started

Magic stores often sell coin gimmicks with the implication that no practice is needed to dazzle an audience. In fact, whether an effect depends on a gimmick or not, a lot of practice is always needed to make it seem like magic. Those interested in coin magic are better off starting with a good book or DVD on the subject and practicing some of the basic skills. Generally regarded as a solid introduction to coin magic is the book, "Modern Coin Magic" by J.B. Bobo.

Coin Magic in literature

The Canadian novelist Robertson Davies devotes a good part of his "Deptford Trilogy" to the art of coin magic. The three novels follow in part or wholly the carreer of the fictitious magician, Magnus Eisengrim who was abducted as a boy by a travelling circus and learned his craft while concealed in a papier-maché automaton. The final novel in the series, World of Wonders, details the career of this magician and can be considered as the greatest literary depiction of a coin magic virtuoso. The description of coin magic in the novel are remarkable for their clarity but Davies' novels on this subject have not received wide attention in large part because his hero learned his craft while being sodomized as a child by an uncanny morphine addict who taught magic for a sexual price. The association of magic with depravity has not appealed to broad audiences and Davies novels make for disturbing reading. His works are published by the Penguin press.