The recent posting of several approaches to a C/S Transposition effect found me reviewing all of my known approaches,
with a pondering of what works for a lay observer and why? I am looking for experience opinions on a simple scenario:

your right hand is palm up at waist level, open and empty. One or more objects are placed thereon and an action follows.
Which would you think is more astonishing based on what is expected vs. what occurs?

a) a single silver coin is placed, fist made and reopened. The coin is gone. (naked hand)

b) a single silver coin is placed, fist made and reopened. The coin is now copper.

c) a single silver coin is placed, fist made and reopened. There are now two silver coins.

d) a copper and silver coin are placed. The copper is removed leaving the silver visible on the fingers. Fist made and reopened. The coin is now copper.

e) a copper and silver coin are placed. The copper is removed leaving the silver visible on the fingers. Fist made and reopened. The copper has returned to join the silver.

f) a copper and silver coin are placed. The copper is removed leaving the silver visible on the fingers. Fist made and reopened. The silver is gone (naked hand).

g) a copper and silver coin are placed. The copper is removed leaving the silver visible on the fingers. Fist made and reopened. The coin is now gold.

For me:
A. The hand is opened and nothing has changed.
B. The hand is opened and a small glass of milk and plate of cookies is "present"

As far as those listed by you
All could be magical......

Funsway,

If this is a multiple choice question, I would say (d) would be surprising. However, you might need to check over your descriptions for (d) and (f). What happens to the coin that has been removed from the left hand?

I could be misunderstanding your original post. I tend to have medication induced morning brain fog.

Thanks for posting,

Jim

These options are meant to be just one phase of a complete routine in which a Transpo might be part or expected.

In the options mentioned left hand coin may have been placed in a spectator's hand or waiting to be.

(d) could open the left hand for reveal of an instant transpo or lead to an effect with two coppers.

(f) I have done this -- building the idea that magic sometimes has, "A mind of its own." I then did some one coin effects with the copper then split it into two coppers, then one into silver,
and continued with the original effect. I followed this course because no one wanted to volunteer to assist.

After this silliness I had two people who wanted to be assistants, so I did a Transpo between their hands.

The only falsehood in that story is I was using black and white stones and not coins.

It's getting past the "exactly the same size" ...

Although any of these effects would look good, I like c). It's always interesting to have objects multiply in the hand rather than just change denomination.

Hi Jonathan.

John Bannon has an idea in Impossibilia for a coin transposition between the magician and the spectators hands, using two different sized coins (quarter and half for example).


Jim

I never thought of that as a limitation except if using a Exp ]

the "extra coin" approach could also mean "extra coins" and one can always just use just the two objects and some extra guile.

so many options added by just having visual color/shade contrast between coins -- some of those being false expectations.

Perhaps "Contrast Attention" should be added to the list of psychological ploys.

My opinion is more of a spectator than magician, for me it is always better when the changes are more "bold", from empty hands to a coin in the hand, same with the reverse, or when one coin become more coins or the reverse.
Color changes, silver/copper in the heat of the trick, sometimes I forgot what was on the hand, so the reveal is great but I doubt it or need to rethink what was in the hand.

For instance I like C/s/b as a trick, however every time I ve seen it done or I do it, you need to remind the spectator what was on the hand and what was taken away, still a great trick but not as direct from something to nothing.

Another example is HH, all steps are great but the end is from something in the hand to nothing, great punch line.

Just my lay opinion

Good point.
Clarity is important before the magic happens.