Modern Coin Magic. J. B. Bobo

the left hand gently touch the back of the right hand, Fig. 1. The right hand turns inward and over and apparently drops the coin into the waiting left hand, but actually the coin is retained in the right hand, palmed, as the left hand closes, Fig. 2.

      With the right middle finger, tap the closed left hand once. Draw the left hand into a tighter fist by pressing the tips of the fingers into the palm, the thumb angling over the top of the fingers. Placing the fingers in this position makes the next move possible. Open the left hand, slowly and gracefully, a finger at a time, beginning with the little finger. When all the fingers are extended and apart the hand is shown on both sides. It is empty.

      Care must be taken to perform this vanish slowly and gracefully. Grace is the important element. Make it look like you really dumped the coin into the left hand. Actually do this a few times before a mirror, then repeat this action but retain the coin palmed in the right hand.

      Don’t open the left hand too quickly. Take your time and you will have a beautiful and effective coin vanish.

      OVER THE TOP

      Here is a vanish I have taught in my coin lectures throughout the country. It has always been well received. I think you will find it off the beaten path.

      The coin rests on the two middle fingers of the right hand, near the tips. The left hand is nearby, held palm up and about the same level. Left hand moves to the right until it crosses over the palm of the right hand. Right fingers toss the coin upward, Fig. 1, into the left hand which immediately turns over, palm downward, the coin falling into the right as the left hand closes, Fig. 2. Almost simultaneously the right hand is turned so its back is toward spectators and the second, third, and fourth fingers curl inward slightly on the coin, retaining it where it has fallen. At this juncture the backs of both hands are toward the audience and the right forefinger is pointing to the closed left hand which supposedly holds the coin.

      All of these moves must blend into one continuous action. There can be no hesitation. The coin merely makes a hop, skip and jump from the tips of the right fingers onto the left hand and then falls back into the right hand.

      After a slight pause the left hand is opened and shown empty.

      The only manipulation to this vanish is the knack of tossing the coin from the right middle fingers up into the left hand. The rest of the maneuver follows easily and naturally.

      THE TUNNEL VANISH

      Hold the left hand palm downward and close it into a loose fist so only the thumb and forefinger touch. The right hand holds the coin horizontally between the forefinger and thumb—thumb is on top, Fig. 1.

      It will be noted that if the coin is pushed into the left fist and then released it will fall to the floor because of the slightly open left fingers. But if the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand are extended when the coin is released it will fall onto these fingers instead. And this is exactly what happens. The coin merely goes over the left thumb and as soon as it is inside the left fist it is turned loose. The extended right second, third, and fourth fingers catch it and curl inward, holding it where it lands, Fig. 2. Without hesitation the right hand moves a few inches to the right with its back toward the onlookers. Left hand closes into a tighter fist and the right forefinger gives a final poke into the left fist.

      It appears that the coin was pushed into the left fist and then given a final poke with the right forefinger.

      The left hand is then turned palm up, opened, and shown empty. The coin has faded into nothingness.

      Done smartly, this is a coin vanish to fool the closest observer.

      THUMB PALM VANISH

      This vanish is about as simple and easy as they come, yet it is quite effective.

      Display the coin held between the right first and second fingers, Fig. 1. Place the open left hand in front of the coin, and under this cover bend the first two fingers inward and thumb palm the coin in the right hand, Fig. 2. Quickly straighten the first and second fingers and close the left fingers around them. Move the left fist away to the left, as if removing the coin from the right two fingers, which now separate. To all appearances the coin is now in the left fist—actually it is thumb palmed in the right hand. Turn the left fist palm uppermost. Simultaneously transfer the coin in the right hand from the thumb palm position to the classic palm position and snap the fingers over the closed left hand. This is a subtle way of saying that coin is not in the right hand. Open the left hand to show the coin gone.

      To transfer the coin from the thumb palm to the classic palm: Bend the two middle fingers inward to the surface of the thumb palmed coin, right thumb bending slightly and pushing the coin lower in the hand. The middle fingers carry the coin from the thumb palm to the classic palm position under cover afforded by snapping the fingers.

      This last move should be mastered by all coin workers since many uses will be found for it.

      THE DROP VANISH

      MILTON KORT

      At the outset the coin rests on its side at the middle joint of the right forefinger, Fig. 1. The hand should be held perfectly relaxed with the fingers curled inward naturally. Furthermore the hand must be tilted very slightly forward so the lower part of the hand will be closest to the body.

      The waiting left hand is palm upward and a few inches lower than the left hand. Both hands move toward each other and just as the right hand is over the left it tosses the coin into the air about half an inch—just enough to clear the forefinger—and it is caught in the same hand (right) in finger palm position at the base of the third and fourth fingers, Fig. 2.

      The reason for holding the right hand as just described should now be apparent. With the right hand turned slightly forward the coin merely lands at the base of the third and fourth fingers and stays there without any additional movement of the fingers. In fact, the right fingers must not move at all, but should be sufficiently curled at the beginning so the coin can be retained when it lands. A few trials will be necessary to get the correct tilt of the right hand so the coin will fall from the forefinger, land at the base of the last two fingers and be retained as described. Remember to keep the right hand completely relaxed and you will experience no difficulty in mastering the sleight.

      The hands come together just as the coin lands on the lower right fingers. The illusion is that the coin falls down into the left hand. Close the left fingers as the hands are separated. Do not attempt to palm the coin at this stage, but merely hold it where it lands in the right hand by bending