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bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2672 Posts |
What I mean is, in your own hand, what is the ratio of coin to hand that you prefer and find the most natural? I ask the question like that to get an overall view of size of coin vs. hand.
I know that some people like using old English pennies (the big ones) and others (as I have seen from some of your video demos) use bespoke coins. I seem to be having most joy with the UK 50 pence for ease of use and visibility. It seems that over the years our currency has shrunk here in the UK and has actually become less useful for manipulation. I preferred the old 10 pence and five pence; there was more to get hold of. |
KJ New user Louisville, KY 97 Posts |
I think it depends on what kind of sleight you are doing. Some sleights are better with bigger coins while others work great with small coins. Halves and Quarters in my opinion are the best. Anything else takes a few minutes for me to get the feel to.
-KJ http://www.geocities.com/kjmagi/ |
David Le Veteran user USA 365 Posts |
Quarters or half dollars... but usually I prefer quarters more because half dollars are too big and I don't think I can do French drops or visual retentions with them that easy.
However, half dollars feel good when I'm doing a coin roll. |
Larry Barnowsky Inner circle Cooperstown, NY where bats are made from 4770 Posts |
For stand up, silver dollar size coins such as Morgan, Peace Dollars or Ikes. For close up effects such as Matrix, Kennedy halves are ideal.
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Bill Citino Special user Doylestown, PA 837 Posts |
I mainly use Barber, Walking Liberty, and very rarely Kennedy Halves for my close up and manipulation acts.
-Bill |
bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2672 Posts |
Do you know what would be cool? … a web page with currency of the world with pictures and relative sizes. I wonder if there is one out there.
Perhaps I should get a bunch of Euros (which are NOT in common circulation here in the UK) and dig out my change from my last US trip. |
Jason Fleming Veteran user Marooned, Hawaii 374 Posts |
The audience benefits when you use the biggest coin you can comfortably use for manipulation. It's much easier to appreciate the magic if they are seeing silver dollars vanish and appear, than if you make them squint for the quarters. (Impromptu is another story.)
I use Morgan Dollars and matched-sized Chinese coins. Regards, Jason |
david_a_whitehead Inner circle USA 2122 Posts |
I like halves.
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Tommy Brown Regular user 110 Posts |
Halves and quarters fit my hands better, but I prefer using Morgan Silver Dollars mainly because of increased visibility and their weight. They sound good too.
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sleightofhander Special user 618 Posts |
It's too bad that Morgans feel like manhole covers in my tiny hands. Reed McClintock and Curtis Kam make them look really light though. I tend to stick with mostly halves with other change like quarters, dimes, and pennies.
By the way for some out there that doesn't know what a manhole cover is. They are large steel circles in the middle of the street. |
Daniel Faith Inner circle Neenah, Wisconsin 1526 Posts |
I use walking liberty 1/2 dollars. I like the sound of real silver coins.
Use whatever works for you and your size of hand. What others use doesn't matter. If you can use quarters you are actually at an advantage. You can always easily borrow quarters for impromptu work.
Daniel Faith
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Jason Fleming Veteran user Marooned, Hawaii 374 Posts |
Sleightofhander,
I'm still laughing at your manhole cover comment. |
SpoonBender New user 3 Posts |
HAHAHA... manhole...
I am pretty much open to any kind of coin… really. I mean, having started by reading Bobo's Modern Coin Magic, I am now used to using half dollar/English Penny sized coins, and I like them for their visibility, but close up I think working with the currency in circulation is best, its natural and not erm... whats the word, suspicious/magiciany... Anyway, that's my two cents on the coin issue (sorry... terrible pun, yet again...)
"Life is like a deck of cards; there are always a couple of jokers!" - Karamvir Singh Chadha
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David Neighbors V.I.P. 4910 Posts |
I use Barber halves!
Best David Neighbors The Coinjurer |
david_a_whitehead Inner circle USA 2122 Posts |
Kennedy halves all te way! hehe. finger palming and coin rolling is a breeze with em
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Jason Fleming Veteran user Marooned, Hawaii 374 Posts |
One issue I have come across using Morgans is placing them into the spectator’s hand. I routinely do a change to Chinese coin in their hand, and some smaller-handed types (usually very sleight females or children) make me nervous that the coin will flash in their hand prior to the reveal. To compensate, I have them turn their fist palm-down after the switch. I don't think I've ever gotten caught. It just worries me.
So now I got myself some Barber Halves too...brings me full circle to when I first started learning coins with Kennedy halves. |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I will have to say half dollars because I use others that are the same size (Mexican Peso, Chinese Coin and English Penny.)
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Dan LeFay Inner circle Holland 1371 Posts |
I mostly use Morgans and liberty halves. They look very good and generate interest because they are seldom seen here. However if I had all the high quality gaffs for it I'd go for a coin that was called a "silver 10 guilder". These coins were collectables in Holland years ago. Their size is just between a half and a normal dollar.
I think it has to do with the size of the coin and my hand, but all the moves I learn seem to be easier with these 10 guilder pieces. Morgans are the most impressive and beautiful IMHO. It takes a little time to get used to the size but when you do a shadow-coins type effect with those big things... my God!
"Things need not have happened to be true.
Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths, that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." Neil Gaiman |
joseph Eternal Order Please ignore my 17407 Posts |
I like the Morgan dollars, and the Barber would be better than the Kennedy for multiple palming.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." (Einstein)...
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oldguy New user 83 Posts |
Don't laugh. I like dimes. They're easy to palm, easy to ditch, and you can do a beautiful retention vanish with one. Up close, of course. I even asked Tod Lassen if he would make me a dime s**** when he was in Portland. He laughed but said he would. I never got around to ordering one. Try using them sometime for a change of change. You'll fool the kids and magicians will think you're crazy.
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