Just discovered in a handful of small change given out at a hardware store in Honolulu, Hawaii, a coin that looks like the genuine US 5 cent piece, but is not. The evil minds behind this fake did a decent enough job on the portrait side. However, the back side of this so-called "2004" Nickel lacks the familiar realtor's view of Monticello, and instead bears an odd tribute to, of all things, the Louisiana Purchase. (they even added the provacative emblem of a hatchet crossed with some sort of pipe) This nefarious plot to cause confusion and panic amongst those of us who still perform such classics as the 21 cent trick, York's "Nickle Saver", and of course, "the sprinkler system on the front lawn" is well afoot and spreading.

Have these devices made their way to your area? Perhaps there's one in your pocket, right now? Not wanting to fall prey to this dastardly plot, I quickly inserted the one I got into the CD drive of my computer, and scanned it for spyware. So far, it's safe. But you never know....

Yeah, along with the new quarters, $20's, etc, we now have these little gems. I've only seen one once. I suppose change is nice and all, especially for security features in paper money. For coins, I don't think it's all that necessary.

Kevin

Looks like a hatchet crossed with a golf club??? on the ones I`ve seen.....John

Yep they've started to appear in my pockets, too. A hatchet and a pipe... might be the makings of a patter story around implements of death.

And if that's not enough, there's another tail design on the nickel coming in the fall with a Lewis and Clark theme. Then in 2006 the nickel gets another upgrade to the Monticello tail design! Start hoarding your pre '04 nickels.

Greg

John, the "golf club" was the first impression of the first person I showed it to, also. Perhaps the idea of whacking a putter with an axe has occurred to many golfers?

In related news, I noticed that because of the way the date is written around the circumference of the nickel, the "1999" looks a lot like "666!". Bizarrists should be saving those, too.

Point taken, Kevin. Who'd be silly enough to make counterfeit nickels?

BTW, I assume no liability for anyone actually trying to scan their coinage in their CD drives.

I have had a few people mistake the new nickels for QUARTERS!!!

David, there's a trick in there somewhere, don't you think?

Oh my gosh, we'll call it Dishonest Jefferson!!! LOL, well talk about counterfit nickels and then it can grow to a medium size one and then a jumbo..... anyways, Gregory would kill me along with Chris. He he.

Well...there goes my favorite coin gaff ever.....THE SQUIRTING NICKEL.

I'm thinking we might be able to use this as a copper/silver gaff, only this one is nickle/quarter. Imagine, you're showing a new quarter and a nickle on your palm. Hands otherwise empty. You've already made a comment about the stateside of the quarter, to fix that image in the specator's mind.

Now, were you to apply one of the familiar procedures, you could apparently remove the quarter from your hand, actually showing the odd side of the nickle. Imagine the spectator's surprise when you clearly place what looks like the quarter in/on his hand, but when he opens the hand, he sees a nickle.

Curtis,

I think "they" got to you man... you're talking like a new nickel backer (good play, yes?) instead of the steadfast warrior against this latest attempt to undermind the US economy and close-up magic. Are you unable to communicate freely? What do they have on you man??!!

Ok, seriously - That's a pretty cool idea (quarter / nickel thing). I'm going to try some variation of that the next night that I work - like a standard S&S switch, but more open and visual, and see what happens.

Best,

Mike

Can't wait for the new penney...special edition... Lincoln is not on the chair. World's smallest illusion! The tiniest DeKolta chair vanish!

I just wish they'd update the dollar so it would match the newer currency better for, uh...physical manipulations of the appearance of other bills.

I keep hoping the new currency would have braille, holograms and more convenient sizing. Optimist huh?