Anybody know what the best coins are for coin magic? I have larger than average hands, 8.5" bottom of palm to tip of middle finger. 9" thumb to pinkie.

Any thoughts?

Let me know!

Josh

Dollar coins would be the best, mostly because they are more visible and most spectators would expect that they are more difficult to hide in your hands. However if you are going to use your spectators' hands, half dollar coins are better - mostly because you don’t know if their hands are large enough to handle dollar coins well.

There are several threads on coin size and hand size here in the forums. Use the search tool above right to get to some threads that discuss this extensively.

Jim

Good advice!

And welcome to the Café. 😊

Personally I like to swap between dollar and half-dollar coins while I practice. They require slightly different placements for the different sleights/handlings and I find that the ability to swap between them really helps me focus on what works for one size vs. another.

I also like both depending on the effect.

Okay thanks.

Do you know where I could get some coins for a decent price? Not looking to spend a lot of money.

Josh

You can often get Kennedy half dollars from a bank as they're still technically in circulation. You might try calling a few banks in your area and asking if you can get some. You can get rolls of them on ebay as well, for a few dollars over what they're worth.

As far as silver dollars, Eisenhower dollars can be also found on ebay for a couple bucks each.

Practice is good with both size coins, but you can also use them in routine as well... The size difference creates more contrast and texture to the effect, along with keeping your hands familiar (and ready for adjustments) with both size coins.



A lot of good info here, but yes, for about $10 bucks, you can go to most any bank and get yourself 5 Ike dollars, and 10 Kennedy half dollars, and you're set for years to come. Just grab yourself a couple of Chinese coins and few English pennies cheap on eBay and you can do most things, with some practice, of course.

Good journey to you, JD.

ABOUT $10?
If your bank is charging any more than that, you should call the Feds!
If they are changing less than that, buy as many as you can!


There are limitations, banks don't seem to want to keep half dollar or dollar coins (other than the ~golden ones that are smaller than a half dollar) You may need to check back often and several banks. I believe that the only time when they will have them is when a previous customer brought some in.

John, many banks keep a small amount on hand but all other banks can order rolls when requested. Although they CAN, some don’t seem to want to. ALso you can order the coins directly from the US Mint website.

Kennedy Half-Dollars: https://catalog.usmint.gov/kennedy-2019-......&start=1

Ike dollars can be purchased on Ebay with full 20 coin rolls going for about $35 to $40 with shipping included.

Jim

MB, your video made me smile. Love it.

That is literally the epitome of coin magic. Top echelon for sure. I aspire to do that eventually.

Josh

I stand corrected.

Years ago, I was able to find $'s and $/2 at local banks for face value, and it was conversations with them that led me to believe that they didn't want to retain them.

This is a really good idea !

Also, thanks for the video on how that idea could work

Thanks!

Whenever possible I prefer Eisenhower silver dollars. Morgan's and walking Liberty's and coins like those are nice but the problem that I have with them is it mostly people are not familiar with them and therefore Immediately become quote-unquote trick coins. So I like to stick to coins that people are at least somewhat familiar with.

That makes sense.

Thanks!

Josh

A couple of months ago when I began looking at coin magic more seriously, I picked up few similarly sized coins for practice: a single US half dollar coin, an old English penny and an almost black Argentinian two cents ("dos centavos") coin.

They've been great but now I'm looking at routines that need several identical coins so I need to expand my collection. After much consideration I think I'll end up trying to get used to (and learning the differences between) a few different coin sets, i.e. adding a few more half dollars and English pennies and a couple of larger (~38mm?) coin sets too, such as US dollars and old English Crowns... and I'll also practice with "in circulation" coins too of course (not my strong point because tiny UK coins/big hands).

Good discussion here.

I have found that usually coin effects are done with half dollar size coins, and mostly Kennedy halves and or English pennies, at least that's about so in the U.S. But there are other good like-size coins out there to choose from. I think these are mostly the size coins of choice because they are the best of both worlds as to most people's hand size and as to good visualness, from hobbyists to pros.

Dollar size coins are fun if you can handle them, and usually it is just a matter of diligent practice that makes that happen, that makes anything happen really. And though people don't much if at all walk around anymore with dollar size coins, they are still amazed by them, their larger size still POPS! to the eye and demands attention. Subconciously, specs think they are easier to follow, and harder for you to do anything tricky with them. As to Ike or Morgan, either or is fine. No doubt that Morgans are a nicer looking coin, but Ikes are much easier to come by and much cheaper. I have not found anyone that questioned either of them in performance. And actually I do a pet effect, my "MB Transpo PLUS" using a Morgan and dollar size Chinese coin, that I show cleanly and even let specs handle, so there's no suspicion of any gaff coins, etc., mostly because there aren't any and everything is shown right out in the open. The larger coins give the routine a big bounce.

And you can use different size coins for different effects, or use them both in the same effect as I point out above *(and I appreciate the good comments here on that). For me, if you're doing a One Coin Routine or Vanish/Production sequence, a dollar size coin is best and certainly more visual. But when I do a coins across, I like to use half dollars as they are a bit easier to handle and to be deceptive with up close. But that's me, how about you?

And I know some like to get coins off the specs, most times smaller coins like quarters, dimes, pennies, nickels. Lots of good effects with these sizes too but I prefer to use the larger coins I carry and honestly, no one ever seems to care one way or the other. I typically will do something with people's smaller coins on-the-spot if I have to. But I prefer to always be ready with what's more comfortable for me to do the best I can for them. Easy enough to do, always packs small & plays BIG, and I've been doing it that way for many years without a hitch.

Another element here is as to feel and play of the coins, especially as to dollar size. Silver coins have their feel (and true sound) and clad coins or replica coins have their feel as to them. So, to each his own but you can do the same things with any of them, truth be told. Just depends on you mostly. The specs will follow with whatever you have to present, any which way you lead them.

That helps a lot.

BTW...How long have you been doing coin magic MB?

Josh

Can any UK coin magicians suggest a good place to buy US coins? I'm after a few clad Kennedy halves (1971 if possible) to add to the one I've been practicing with up until now.

NP. 😊👍🏽 Just my view from the journey.

Oh, and I’ve been playing with coin magic from a kid growing up in NYC. I was always drawn to them for some reason. I went in & out of magic over the years but began to better improve with coins later on. Not sure why it went like that but I guess more so than not, happy it sorta worked out a bit. 😉