Hocus Pocus is offering a set of 4 Chinese coins with a matching shell, apparently with little fanfare. However, this is a beautiful set of coins, and something I've been looking for.

I have a set of similar coins by Sasco, which are very crudely made. I then got a set of beggar coins, but those are not much better. The beggar coins are brass with a couple of engraved Chinese characters filled with black paint. The diameter of the holes in the coins doesn't match the shell. I don't think these coins look like real money.

The Chinese Coin Mystery set has a well-fitted shell, and the coins look like real money. They are solid brass with intricate designs. The set costs as much or slightly less than the beggar coins. If you're looking for "Chinese" coins, I recommend you check these out.

Does the shell cover the coin completely? Thanks.

Thanks for doing the hard work of checking this out, Darrin. What about the feature they mention at Hocus Pocus, i.e., that you can show both sides of the shell? Is it true? Do you find this useful?

I was misled by the advertising, thinking that it was like the shell advertised with an insert inside so that the obverse side can be casually flashed. What the advertisement means is that the nested shell can be casually flashed front and back-the fit is very close.

Viewed from the side, the thin edge of the coin, there is nothing to see, as the shell extends all the way to the bottom of the coin.

As a test, I tried a coin roll, and was able to roll a nested shell without the two separating, although there was a little clatter.

Hey,

Give us a link when you plug a product. Some of us are too lazy to leave this site to search for it.

Oh, the NESTED shell can be shown on both sides... a rather crucial omission, IMHO. Obviously you weren't the only person to read it this way, I'd feel a little taken, too.

On the other hand, I have yet to identify any routine I can't do simply because I can't show both sides of the shell. So it's mostly a non issue for me.

Thanks for clearing that up for us.

Hocus Pocus has a big old banner on the Café's Main Page. Just click on the banner.

Thanks, Scott.

Curtis,

I've always wondered what is the novelty of being able to show both sides of a sh**l? The depth of field is totally wrong; I can't imagine it fooling anyone close-up. But hey, if someone wants to pay an extra $20 for one of those special devices, I say, go nuts.

How do the coins look in quality compared to the Johnson Chinese coins? I am VERY interested in buying Chinese Misers Dream by Henry Evans to obtain the half dollar sized set to match my Johnson coins as well as the Jumbo set with gaffs (about $125 at magicsmith)

The Chinese Coin Mystery's quality is not as good as the Johnson Chinese coins! and I also own a set of Chinese Misers Dream by Henry Evans it is very good in quality and handling! Cheers

Henry Evens' coins are very nice but no where near Johnsons Chinese coin.

The 2 coins are totally different. Evens coins are very thin look nothing like the Johnson coins which are probably 2 or even 3 times thicker.

Yes, Henry Evans' Chinese coins are not like the Johnson coins which are probably 2 or even 3 times thicker.

But actually the real Chinese coins are not that thick!

Do they look like the Johnson coins asteticly? In other words, if I do copper silver brass and a couple routines later use an Evans Chinese coin, would they pass as the "same coinage" I hate to introduce so many different coins (WL half, WL silver dollar, 20 Centavo, English Penny) now introduce several variations of a "Chinese coin" I would definitly like to see if they will "pass as the same coin" before spending that kind of money.
Thanks, Jeff