COINED AGAIN

By Richard Robinson Nothing is more startling than ordinary objects becoming extraordinary in the hands of the magician. Often a clever effect done in this manner will stay in the mind of the beholder longer than more elaborate magic. In Coined Again one coin suddenly becomes an entirely different coin. Sleight of hand is required as well as practice. However magicians will find the rehearsal time involved well spent, since this effect can be done anywhere, at any time. In the illustrations large diameter coins have been used to make the progression clear. It is important to practice the routine with coins of varying sizes if you intend to borrow one of the coins to effect the transformation. Every diameter coin handles differently when it comes to palming and manipulation. Props Two coins of similar diameter or one coin and a borrowed coin of like diameter. The coins should be of contrasting metals. The routine can be varied to have the borrowed coin change to a button, medallion, or other unexpected object. Routine & Handling Two coins are needed, preferably the same size but of contrasting metals such as silver and gold. Keep one coin in the left pocket, the other in the right. Put your hands into your pockets as if looking for one coin. The gold coin is palmed in the right hand, actually it just lies at the base of the fingers and the hand is kept closed so it cannot be seen. As you bring you hands out of your pockets, bring out the hand that is holding the silver coin first. Place the silver coin on the table in front of you. The right hand reaches over to pick up the silver coin. The gold coin remains concealed in the right hand, unseen by the spectators. Once the coin is picked up it is revolved so that it is clipped between the first and second fingers. This must be done casually while you comment about the value of the coin. Note that the third and fourth fingers have curled back slightly. This is a natural position. Don't press these fingers into the palmed gold coin, it must continue to be held only loosely in its concealed position in the hand. The left hand is opened fully. It is parallel to the floor, palm up. The right hand moves until it is over the open left palm. Then the right hand moves down until it is just about touching the open left palm. This conceals the open left palm from the spectators' view. The spectators think you are placing the silver coin onto the left palm. In fact, you are allowing the concealed gold coin to drop out of the right hand into the left palm. The position of your hands makes it impossible to see this happen. With the gold coin no longer in the right hand, the silver coin is now thumb palmed by the right hand. This is why it was clipped between the first and second fingers. Swing the first and second fingers (and thus the silver coin) back towards the thumb, at the same time move the thumb away from the palm. As the edge of the silver coin hits flat against the side of the base of the right finger, the thumb closes again so that the base of the thumb presses the silver coin against the base of the right finger. The left hand is closed over the gold coin; the back of the right hand is towards the spectators. The right hand gestures towards the closed left hand. This gesture allows you to keep the thumb palmed coin out of sight. The left hand is opened to reveal that by magic the silver coin has become a gold coin.