Colm Fitzpatrick
Children’s Corner
Magicians are probably most well known for the trick in which they make a coin vanish, only for it to reappear behind a spectator’s ear. It’s a funny piece of conjuring and usually elicits a roar of laughter from the audience if performed correctly.
Believe it or not, there’s a whole branch of magic which focuses solely on coin manipulation and trickery. Effects range from producing multiple coins out of nowhere, to making money jump from one hand to the other. What distinguishes coin magic from other forms of prestidigitation is the sheer amount of skill it requires to perfect. While some tricks are self-working, for the most part performing with coins demands intense sleight-of-hand training and proficient technique.
When starting to learn coin magic, people usually begin with JB Bobo’s Modern Coin Magic which teaches the foundations of this art. But if you just want a quick introduction into the world of coin magic, try practicing this trick and see if you can master it.
The first part involves making a coin disappear and the second part entails pulling the coin out of someone’s ear.
Sit down at a table opposite somebody and place a coin on the table. Keep a second coin hidden in your right hand. You can keep this hand on your lap or resting casually on top of the table.
With your left hand, slide the coin towards you and pick it up a few times and set it back down, informing the spectator that at some point you will make it disappear. When you’re ready to perform the trick, slide the coin towards you but instead of picking it up, let it slide off the table into your lap. It’s important to pretend as if you’re still really lifting the coin up and holding it in your hand. Practice this motion smoothly so your audience won’t suspect a thing.
Rub your fingers a few times to imitate a coin dissolving away, and then open your hand to show everybody that the coin is no longer there.
Next, bring your right hand up to someone’s head and pretend to take the concealed coin out of their ear. You don’t have to perform this part – but it’s a general rule of magic that you should always bring back what you made disappear.
This is a very simple trick but can be a powerful effect when executed well. Once you’ve got it under your belt, try learning some other coin manipulation routines – and maybe you’ll even become a world-class magician!