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)
