I do a lot of coin work (but I"m no David Roth) and I don't know what took me so long to realize this, but there are expanded shells and other assorted gaffs for quarters as well as half dollars. Should I make the switch (yes, it entails buying all new stuff)to the more common, recognizable coin, or is it not necessary.....I don't recall ever hearing anything negative about using half dollars.

Hi!

I actually have that same issue but instead of going from halves to quarters I'm thinking about going from halves to dollar size coins. The issue for me is the smaller coins just are not as visual as the larger coins. Halves are great and I have never been called out on using them instead of using quarters.

The only gaff in a quarter I'm considering is the split coin because it might be nice to have for the show me a trick moment.

Just my two cents.

IMHO, it's a matter of style, and what size works best in your hands.

It's not stretching believability that I might have something a little more exotic on me than common currency when I'm dressed up nicely. And being "of a certain age" (read: old) certainly helps. Having nicer things is somewhat age-appropriate.

A 13 year old with a handful of 1922 peace dollars might raise a red flag. Not so for a 43 year old in a suit.

That being said, a quarter shell and a coins across using borrowed coins is a stunner.

I've done them all and must say here that IMHO, specs don't care one way or the other, if you use their coin or your coin (that's stuff that magi's think they think, locically thinking that is). Truth is that specs mostly respond to good magic either which way, your coins or theirs. So don't worry about whose coins they are, just be good at what you do as that matters the most.

As to the size of the coins (and a lot of things in life), bigger is usually better that is here in the way of being more visual and subconciously gives the spec the feeling that they are even more on top of following things...same thing for going from half dollars to dollar coins.

I remember Chris "3 Fly" Kenner saying once that people that do 3 Fly with half dollars just don't get it. I didn't either at first but the dollar size coins make the effect look so much better along with making you better as well. Sure it has a lot to do with being comfortable and size of your hands but I tellya, I once saw a 13yr old boy do 3 Fly with dollar coins and it made it even more amazing to me, knowing that his hands weren't all that big but clearly his skill was. He's probably somewhere doing 3 Fly with manhole covers by now...

With that, it's all about practice really and giving your hands the time to learn what you need them to do. Don't get me wrong, I like working with the half dollar size coins and they are sometimes more appropriate but playing with the dollar size coins for a week or 2 exclusively opened a reluctant door and gave me even more confidence in myself through my hands.

Haven't used quarters in 25yrs, haven't done Dime & Penny either probably longer than that. Enjoy the journey, it's all good. -Mb

I've never had one person make a deal out of the half dollars I use, it's never happened once.

Is this simply a case of magicians over thinking again?

:)

Yes, as the original poster, I have never ever been called on using halfs, and it definitely is a case of magicians (me) overthinking......So, I guess I'll stick with the halves, not worry about it or think about it and just do my stuff, do my thing.....go for it.

Don't let that stop you from future purchases if a gaff quarter or whatever is needed and you'll find your self doing impromtu coin magic using normal coins from peoples pockets.

I will say this I do not like the modern quarters what with their differnt states and all that, hard to match a gimmicked quarter with a borrowed one I would imagine.

Even harder for specs to even notice that they are not matched coins to begin with.

People's minds differentiate very simply...If 2 coins look pretty much alike then they are alike - Done. Believe me, no one cares (again, except the over-thinking this stuff magicians) whether you have 2 state quarters with different states on them...Or 4 of them with states from different parts of the country.

The mind differentiates more precisely between color, size, weight, etc. But if something looks pretty much alike, then for the most part under normal conditions, then it is. And that little tidbit is a part of why we can do in magic what we do, that is the mind's acceptance/deduction of normalcy.

It's always been funny to me as to coin guys making sure the dates are the same on their 3-4 coins in a Coins Across or 3 Fly --- Like the spec has any idea or any care beyond the obvious look of the coins, what the date is??? No matter how close they are to you using the coins their minds never, never ever think about the dates. The coins don't even have to be all that identical, all they have to do is all be shiny or all be dull, or all be worn and the mind accepts it as all is fine.

I rarely do coin tricks from coins in a spec's pocket, there's never ever a need to but I could. But I guess since I'm running the show and I'm stering the interactions, why not simply use what puts me in the best position, which is always "My" coins, which happen to 99% of the time be regular coins anyway, and they can check them before or afterwards...Yet another thing that most specs hardly ever ask to do, if you're doing this stuff right.

I tellya, try using invisible coins sometimes or even invisible gaffed coins , now there's a real treat to think about.

Seriously, use what's needed and try not to use what's not necessary. It's sorta like filling your own backpack with sand.

Matching dates is a bit silly, I do not go that far but I do like my coins looking pretty much the same, especially if I'm doing a cig thru quarter. Call it a comfort zone I guess.

Yeah, I hearya. Most coin guys that get sets of coins want the dates to be the same, yep silly I agree...Think it's probably just some sort of neatness thing. Like I said and you agree that looking pretty much the same is all that's really necessary. I haven't done cig thru quarter in ages but it's a wonderful effect. Guess I gave it up when I got into doing my Karate Koin, happened when I stop smoking...Matter of fact I thought a lot of people missed out on Cig Thru Quarter primarily because most folks don't smoke and probably wouldn't bother with it much.

I sometimes disagree with Marion becauus it causes him to come up with a new effect, but here I think an important point is being missed. The most powerful magic is that done in the hands of the spectator, or at least with his direct involvement. If you place a silver dollar or even a half in a spectator's hand he will treat it differently than he does an 'every day' quarter. It changes the balance between anticipation and surprise. Familiarity keeps things simple.

So, I believe that every coin magician should have some quarter based effects in his 'backpack', not only for impromptu, but to engage the audience. Then when you ask, "Can everyone see this?' and they say "no!" you change the quarter to a dollar and keep going.

Maybe I should work up an eBook on quarter based effects just for fun -- the use of gaffs included.

Interesting thread...

I've done Coins Across and Coins Through The Table with halves at first. I've always noticed the intensity of their response. No complaint.

Then I moved to Ike Dollar coins. Again, no problem.

Then I got out my quarter shell, and that evening did Coins Through The Table with borrowed quarters. The cussing and swearing, "No F*^%$ing WAY!", "Impossible", and all...wow. Never got that with halves OR dollar coins.

Just to see if that was a fluke I did it again, different people. First, halves with one group, then dollars with another, then later the quarters, and AGAIN...very intense reaction. I'm not imagining it.

What happened?

Doug

I just picked up some Roy Kueppers flipper quarters. They cost more than the halfs, but they are quarters and the cut is simply genius.

Borrowed money is so cliche, but try to borrow a half, or a dollar coin. Even the new dollar coins are quarter sized so get used to it.

I still love the mass and weight that comes with a morgan dollar, but about .01% of my audience knows what that is.

What do you mean by cliche here?

Well, here's an update:

THe common answer I get, when I ask (paraphrasing), "Why are you so amazed at the quarters? You didn't flip out like that with the Silver Dollars..." Their answer? Again, paraphrasing, "...well I just figured you had some kinda SPECIAL coins, there. But when you took MY money...and did that...WOW..."

So, there IS a suspicion, if the coins are not legal tender. English pennies, for example. One guy asked, "What IS that, some sort of ATOMIC Coin?" The coins "ringing", as I drop each one on the table, really doesn't do it. Too bad half dollars elicit the same response. Not bad, mind you, just not as INTENSE as when you BORROW four quarters and...(pick your fave...)

My little quarter shell...who'd a thunk it??

Doug

I have been using dollar coins lately, but last year I did a coins across with kennedy halves and had the final coin travel to a friends hand...a week later she asked me to "do that trick with the QUARTERS again." I declined and did a different trick, but the point is that she didn't even remember them being halves (probably because I didn't make a big deal of them)...I'm not sure what my point is, but it is interesting.

Vinny

All very interesting replies.....now to only get some gaffed quarters like scotch and soda which I enjoy doing, hopping halves in quarters, which I also enjoy, and a quarter shell.....I can do all the same usual sleights with quarters than I can with halves, so no problem there.

If I'm not mistaken, obsidian52, Scotch & Soda with quarters uses an English Half-penny ("APE-nee"), and hopping quarters do as well. They are not Johnson Products', though.

The ones I remember were customs...by Lassen, I think. Or was it Schoolcraft?

I'm practicing Coins Across (five coin...1 ahead) with quarters. Ha! You think it's hard going from HALVES to DOLLARS, try DOLLARS to QUARTERS! ROFL!

Nickles, dimes and pennies are just TOO small...if ya borrow money, quarters work best. And...you really don't need gaffs. Sometimes I never even use the shell...if I need a real WOWSER, well, there it is.

Doug

If you use halves or Morgan silver dollars plan on having the coins examined by spectators.

I agree...even "Ikes" draw suspicion...and remember, even AFTER they've examined the coins, they are still suspicious of "special coins"...no way around it. Especially if they've never seen that type before...

Doug