Howcast

How to Do the Shim Shell Quarter Coin Trick

Howcast — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:17:12 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Conceal magnet Conceal the magnet by palming it in your right hand or hiding it in your fingers before the trick.
TIP: Hide the magnet inside a wristband or watch.
Step 2: Place quarter in palm Place the shim quarter in your left palm, faceup. The shim is magnetized and conceals a real two-euro coin underneath it.
Step 3: Close hand Wave your right hand over your left palm and assert that you will change a quarter into a two-euro piece right before their eyes.
Step 4: Catch with magnet Catch the quarter with the concealed magnet and discretely lower your right hand and pocket the coin.
Step 5: Reveal Reveal that the quarter has magically become a two-euro coin. Let your audience inspect the real euro.
FACT: A real two-euro coin has lettering around the edge as a security measure to prevent counterfeiting.

You Will Need

Small
thin magnet
Shim shell gimmick quarter
2-euro coin
Spectators
Wristband or watch (optional)

How to Do the Expanded Shell Transfer Coin Trick

Howcast — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:02:13 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Place coins in purse Put the shell coin and the two real half-dollar coins into the coin purse. Take out the shell coin and one real coin, taking care not to let anyone see the other half dollar still inside the purse.
Step 2: Hold in each hand Hold the real coin, heads facing out, between the fingers and thumb of one hand and the shell coin, heads out, in the other hand.
Step 3: Close one hand Place both coins in your right hand, with the shell coin overlapping onto the real coin. Tell your audience you will make one of the coins disappear.
Step 4: Move hand Move your hand until the shell coin fits completely over the half dollar. Close your hand, pressing the shell onto the real half, and turn your hand over.
Step 5: Make it disappear Wave your left hand over the closed one and utter a magical incantation, like “hocus pocus.”
TIP: Practice what you’ll say during the trick, known as patter, to add realism.
Step 6: Reveal Open your hand to show that one coin has vanished. Show both sides of the remaining coin, which will look completely real.
Step 7: Pluck it out Say you see the now invisible coin. Pretend to pluck it out of the air. Place the “invisible coin” on top of the purse and rub your fingers on it, uttering another incantation to make it melt into the purse. Open the purse to show the half-dollar inside.
FACT: Abraham Lincoln’s portrait on the penny faces to the right while all other portraits of presidents on U.S. coins face to the left.

You Will Need

Expanded shell coin
2 half-dollar coins
Coin purse
Audience
Patter (optional)

How to Do the 21 Cent Coin Trick

Howcast — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:45:40 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Show the coins Display the coins on a table. Then show the audience the four coins: a penny, a dime, and two nickels.
TIP: Do not show them the back of the nickel — it’s a gimmick coin.
Step 2: Tell them a story Tell the audience you have 21 cents to purchase candy.
Step 3: Place the coins Place the shell nickel in your palm, shell-side up. Then, place the penny, dime, and the other nickel on top.
TIP: Cup your hand as you’re putting the coins in your hand so the audience can’t see the shell.
Step 4: Ask audience As you’re doing this, ask the audience to help you count. When they add up the coins, they should say “21 cents.”
Step 5: Press down with finger Make a fist and press your fingers down to snap the coins in place inside the shell. You now have what appears to be one nickel in your hand.
Step 6: Take away coin Tell the audience you forgot to purchase a piece of candy for your sister so you’re going to take a nickel out of your hand and place in it your pocket.
Step 7: Keep hand in fist Keeping your hand still in a fist, ask them how much money should be in your hand now that you took a nickel away. They should say “16 cents.”
Step 8: Open hand Open your hand to reveal the magically disappeared coins.
FACT: The 2006 five-cent coin is the same weight and metal alloy as it was when it was first minted in 1866.

You Will Need

21-cent trick set
Table

How to Do the Scotch and Soda Coin Trick

Howcast — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:01:22 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Set up coins Place both coins next to each other in front of you, face up on a table. The bottom of the half dollar is hollow and magnetized and will fit over the smaller centavo, whose reverse side looks like the back of the half dollar.
Step 2: Cover the centavo Explain that you will make the centavo disappear. Place the half dollar on top of the centavo, partially covering it.
Step 3: Wave your hands Wave your hands over the coins, discreetly pushing the half dollar onto the top of the centavo with your palm. The centavo will snap into the half dollar.
TIP: You can also place the coins in your hand to perform the disappearance.
Step 4: Reveal Lift your hands to reveal that the centavo has disappeared. The coin will look real and can be inspected by the audience.
Step 5: Vanish the coin in your hand when you perform the trick again while palming a quarter. When you open your hand, the centavo has been turned into a quarter.
FACT: Scotch originally comes from a Gaelic word meaning “Water of Life.”

You Will Need

Trick half dollar coin
Trick Mexican centavo coin
Table
Spectators

How to Do the Coin Fold Illusion Trick

Howcast — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:55:59 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Fold paper Place the coin in the center of the paper, and fold the paper in half from bottom to top, leaving the top about one-quarter inch short of meeting the other edge. Turn the paper around so the short edge is on the bottom, facing you. Hold the coin in the paper with your right thumb.
TIP: As you fold, press the paper around the edge of the coin so it leaves a mark on the paper. This will make it appear that the coin is still in the paper after it has been removed.
Step 2: Fold edges Fold the edges of the paper so that you appear to seal the coin inside. Fold the edge on your left outward, toward the audience, and then fold the right edge on your right the same way.
Step 3: Fold the bottom Fold the bottom, lipped edge away from you, to the front. This will leave an open slit in the bottom for the coin to fall out, but it will appear from the audience’s point of view to be sealed inside the paper.
Step 4: Shake coin out Shake the paper to show that the coin is really sealed in. The shaking will let the coin secretly fall into your palm shielded from the audience by your fingers. Palm the coin.
Step 5: Bring out wand Reach into your pocket for your magic wand with the hand the coin is palmed in and drop the coin into your pocket while bringing out the wand. Tap the paper with your wand three times.
TIP: Keep the coin palmed for the entire trick and skip the wand if you’re good at palming.
Step 6: Rip the paper Tear the now-empty paper envelope into pieces to show that the coin has vanished.
FACT: The half-dollar has grooved edges because it originally contained precious metals, and the grooves deterred people from filing down the edges to recover the metals.

You Will Need

Half-sheet of paper
Half-dollar coin
Audience
Magic wand (optional)

How to Do the Bite-Out Quarter Trick

Howcast — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:31:36 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Begin patter Tell your audience to watch as you take a bite out of a quarter with your unusually strong teeth.
Step 2: Position quarter Hold the trick quarter between two fingers and the thumb of your right hand, palm facing toward you.
TIP: Palm the trick quarter, borrow a quarter from a spectator, and switch them to make it look more legitimate.
Step 3: Take a bite Lift the trick quarter to your mouth, bending the folding top down with your lower lip or tongue while putting it in your mouth and pretending to bite down on it. Hold the flap in place with your thumb.
Step 4: Show the bite Take it out of your mouth to reveal that the top part of the coin is missing, leaving a bite mark.
Step 5: Blow to reappear Blow on the coin while releasing your thumb to make the missing piece magically reappear.
FACT: The United States Mint produced special Bicentennial quarters in 1975 and 1976.

You Will Need

Patter
Trick folding quarter
Audience
Borrowed quarter (optional)

How to Do the Classic Coin Transposition Trick

Howcast — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:15:52 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Apply lip balm Apply a generous amount of lip balm to the back of your left hand, beneath the knuckle of your index finger.
TIP: Petroleum jelly, a glue stick, or other transparent, sticky substances work, too.
Step 2: Attach dime Attach the dime to your hand by pressing it onto the lip balm.
Step 3: Show your empty hands Display your empty palms to your spectator. Hold your hands open with your palms out, and making sure to conceal the back of your hand with the dime on it.
Step 4: Rub your palms Rub each of your palms with your fingertips. First your right palm with the fingers of your left hand, and then your left hand with the fingers of your right.
Step 5: Slide dime into palm Slide the dime with your right thumb from the back of your hand into the fingers of your right hand while you rub your left palm.
Step 6: Reveal Reveal the dime from thin air in your right hand.
Step 7: Disappear the dime Pretend to rub the dime into your left palm and transfer it from your fingers to your left thumb, pressing it back onto the back of your left hand. Slowly open both palms, showing that the dime has vanished.
FACT: The first U.S. commemorative coin, produced in 1892, featured Christopher Columbus.

You Will Need

Lip balm or other like substance
Dime
Spectator
Petroleum jelly or glue stick (optional)

How to Do the Pinch Drop Coin Trick

Howcast — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:02:06 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Hold the coin Hold the coin between your thumb and all fingers of your dominant hand. Your palm should be facing toward you with your fingers facing toward the sky, curled slightly.
Step 2: Hide the coin Bring your other hand up, extending your fingers to hide the coin.
Step 3: Palm coin Drop the coin and hold it in the classic finger palm position, holding it between the first and second knuckles of your first and middle fingers.
Step 4: Close empty hand Close your empty hand so that it appears to close around the palmed coin.
TIP: Drop your original hand down to your side so no one will notice you are palming the coin.
Step 5: Blow on it Bring your closed, empty hand up to your mouth and blow on it while slowly opening your fingers.
Step 6: Open your hand Open your hand to reveal that the coin has vanished.
FACT: King Farouk of Egypt, who was deposed in 1952, was one of the world’s greatest coin collectors, with more than 8,500 gold coins.

You Will Need

Coin
Dexterity

How to Do a Simple Spiked Coin Trick

Howcast — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:45:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Describe the trick Present the half dollar and the spike box and state that you’re going to nail eight spikes into the coin. Let the spectators examine the coin to verify that it is solid.
Step 2: Put the coin in the box Place the half dollar into the box and put the cap on the box. The cap will fit only one way.
Step 3: Insert first spike Slide the first spike into the cap and through the box until it comes out the other end. The secret is that the first spike pushes the coin so that it sits vertically inside the box.
Step 4: Insert remaining spikes Pierce the box with the remaining spikes.
TIP: Sell the trick by slowly pushing each spike through, acting like it is difficult to pierce the solid coin.
Step 5: Reveal the coin Pull the spikes out one at a time. Remove the cap and show the spectators that the half dollar is free of holes. Take the coin out and let them examine it to see that there is no damage.
FACT: Congress passed special legislation to put President Kennedy on the half dollar in 1964; under existing law coin designs could only be changed once every 25 years.

You Will Need

A half dollar
A spike box
Eight spikes

How to Do the Coin Palm Magic Trick

Howcast — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:31:58 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Position the coin Rest a coin on the tips of your first and middle or middle and ring fingers, palm up.
Step 2: Press into the palm Curl your fingers inward like you’re making a fist and press the coin into the base of your palm between your thumb and first finger.
TIP: Keep your thumb and your first finger touching to help disguise the palm.
Step 3: Look natural Turn your hand over and hold it in a natural, relaxed position while holding the coin. Mimic the look of the hand not holding the coin.
TIP: Practice with a variety of coins of different weights and sizes to see which is most comfortable.
Step 4: Do the snuff box Palm a coin in the crook between your thumb and first finger, known as “the snuff box.” Hold your fingers pointed inward toward you to conceal it. This is more difficult but more realistic looking.
Step 5: Do a trick Do any number of coin tricks from the classic palm, such as pulling a coin out of someone’s ear.
FACT: The U.S. Mint produces 11-20 billion coins a year.

You Will Need

Coin
Dexterity
A variety of coins (optional)

How to Do the French Drop Coin Trick

Howcast — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:33:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Show the coin Hold the coin between your thumb and fingers, palm up, the coin horizontal.
Step 2: Reach in Reach in with the thumb and first finger of your other hand, as if to take the coin. Let the coin drop past the grabbing thumb and into the palm of the original hand.
Step 3: Palm the coin Palm the coin in your dominant hand, between your thumb and first finger. Close your other hand and move it away as if it holds the coin.
TIP: Practice passing your hand in front and dropping and palming the coin to perfect the sleight-of-hand.
Step 4: Open for reveal Open your second hand to reveal that the coin has magically vanished.
Step 5: Make it reappear Make the coin reappear in your original hand by passing it from your palm to your fingers and opening your hand.
FACT: Did you know? In 1999, an extremely rare 1804 U.S. Silver Dollar was auctioned for $4.14 million.

You Will Need

A coin
Dexterity

How to Do the Matrix Coin Routine

Howcast — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:03:59 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Position the coins Place four coins on the table, arranged as if each were at the corner of a large box. Remove four cards from a deck.
Step 2: Place the cards Place the first card on top of a coin by sliding it off the top of the deck with your thumb. At the same time, secretly pick up the coin and hold it against the bottom card with your third finger. This will hide it from view.
Step 3: Cover the coins Now cover the other three coins with the other cards. Secretly add the hidden coin to the last coin as you cover it. You should now have four cards — one with no coin under it, one with two coins, and two with one coin.
TIP: Be sure to remember which card has which coins!
Step 4: Pick up two cards Announce that you will now make the coins teleport. Pick up two cards simultaneously — the card with two coins under it and a card with one coin underneath. As you pick up the card with one coin, secretly pick up the coin by pinching it against the bottom of the card.
TIP: It’s important to do this quickly, so the audience will be distracted by the appearance of the new coin.
Step 5: Cover the coins Quickly move to the next step. Cover the two coins with the card holding the “disappeared” coin. Slip that coin into the two-coin pile. Discard the extra card. There should now be three cards out — one with three coins under it, another with no coins under it, and a third with one coin under it.
Step 6: Lift up two cards Simultaneously lift up the card with three coins and the card with one coin — again, secretly lifting up the single coin with its card. It will seem as if you have transported the coin yet again!
Step 7: Move another coin Quickly slip the card with the coin hidden under it over the three coins. You now have two cards left — one with no coins under it and one with four coins under it.
Step 8: Reveal the coins Slowly lift the card with no coins under it and show that the coin is gone. Lift up the remaining card to reveal all four coins.
FACT: This trick is based on the classic three-card monte scam used by hustlers.

You Will Need

Four playing cards
Four coins
A cloth-covered table

How to Make a Coin Disappear in Your Hand

Howcast — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:02:04 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Position coin Hold the coin between your thumb and the first two fingers of your hand. Extend the coin out in front of you with your thumb behind it.
Step 2: Move your hands together When you have your audience’s attention, move your hands together so that the empty one covers the hand with the coin. Pretend to be taking the coin, but as your empty hand covers it, simply tuck the coin into the middle joint of the third, fourth, and fifth fingers of the hand it started in.
TIP: This must be done in one fluid motion by bringing your hands together while keeping eye contact with the audience. Do not look at your hands!
Step 3: Refocus attention As you pull away the hand that supposedly now has the coin, focus audience attention on it by pointing to it with the hand concealing the coin. With your audience distracted, curl your last three fingers casually around the coin.
Step 4: Make it vanish You can now tell the audience that you will make the coin disappear, but for you the real trick is done. You just have to decide how you want to “vanish” the coin — by banging your hand on the table, throwing it up in the air, or perhaps swallowing it.
Step 5: Dispose of the coin You might want to let the coin slip out of your hand on the sly. Or, reach over and casually pull it out of someone’s ear.
FACT: The word “magician” comes from the ancient Persian word magi, referring to the high priests of the Zoroastrian religion of Iran, as well as the three kings of the Old Testament.

You Will Need

A large coin
preferably a 50-cent piece
Your hand

How to Make a Coin Disappear

Howcast — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:01:23 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Place coin on table Place a coin on the surface about a foot in front of you and announce that you’re going to perform a magic trick—but don’t say what it is.
Step 2: Slide it Casually reach toward the coin, covering most of it with you first three fingers, and slide it along the surface toward yourself.
Step 3: Drop it When it reaches the edge of the surface, simply let the coin drop. However, pretend it’s still in your hand as you raise it to eye level, ‘holding’ it between your thumb and first two fingers.
TIP: It’s easier to perform this trick while sitting so the coin can drop onto your lap. And if you can have a napkin in place catch it, even better.
Step 4: Flash the coin ‘Show’ the coin to your friends. As long as you make some distracting chatter and keep your hand moving, they’ll think they’re seeing it.
Step 5: Move it Now move the imaginary coin to your other hand and make a fist, as if that hand now holds the coin. Make a point of showing the audience that the hand that previously held the imaginary coin is now empty.
Step 6: Open both hands With a flourish, show that both hands are empty. Just make sure the dropped coin is nowhere in sight.
FACT: David Copperfield is the highest-paid magician of all time, pulling in about $80 million a year.

You Will Need

To be seated at a table with no one on either side
A coin
preferably a quarter
A napkin spread out on your lap