Modern Coin Magic. J. B. Bobo

with this action the right hand turns palm inward and transfers the coin to the front finger hold (see Fig. 2, The Back Palm, page 28). The left hand, supposedly holding the coin is about 12 inches below the right hand.

      “Watch it!”

      Make a motion of tossing the coin upward from the left to the right hand. Suddenly expose the half dollar at the extreme fingertips of the right hand, by simply pushing it into view with the thumb. The effect is that you caught the coin with your left hand, then tossed it invisible into your right hand, where it instantly materialized.

      The entire effect shouldn’t require more than 15 seconds.

      BEHIND THE BACK

      Here is a method which may be used to vanish almost any small object.

      Stand with the body turned one quarter to the right and toss a coin into the air a few times with the right hand, but catching it as it descends with both hands. Each time the coin is caught, drop both arms to the sides before raising them to toss again. Both arms move up and down in unison as the coin is tossed and caught. After the second or third throw the hands drop to the sides as before and the right hand tosses the coin behind the back into the left hand.

      At first this may seem difficult, but after a few trials the knack will come. It will be found that the hands almost come together behind the back as the arms are dropped just prior to the next throw. Actually there is no hesitation when the coin is tossed into the left hand; the toss is accomplished without suspicious movement precisely at the moment the hands drop down. The flight of the coin into the left hand is concealed from view by the body. Just as the coin is caught in the left hand the body turns so left side is toward the spectators. The hands are immediately brought up as before and the right hand tosses the non-existent coin into the air. The left hand has classic palmed the coin in its upward swing and both hands appear to be empty—the spectators viewing the back of the left hand and the palm of the right—fingers of both hands are wide apart, Fig. 1.

      Stand in this position a moment as you watch the upward flight of the invisible coin. It apparently fades into the air.

      If the last move appears identical with the preceding ones the illusion will be perfect. The spectators become used to seeing the coin go upward after each toss and their eyes naturally will go upward on the last throw if you have played your part correctly.

      THE FRENCH DROP (LE TOURNIQUET VANISH)

      One of the oldest methods known for vanishing a coin is this one which is known as Le Tourniquet or French Drop (literally, the Swivel or Twist). Although it is seldom seen today it is good when properly executed.

      With the left hand palm upward, hold a half dollar by its edges between the tips of the left fingers and thumb, tilting the rear of the coin up slightly so its face can be seen by the spectators, Fig. 1.

      Bring the palm down right hand over the coin, the thumb going underneath it and between the left thumb and fingers. Lift up and close the right hand, pretending to take the coin away from the left, but allow the coin to make a half turn forward as it slides down to the base of the second and third fingers of the left hand where it is finger palmed, Fig. 2.

      Keep the left fingers together during this action or the coin may be glimpsed by the onlookers. Move the closed right hand to the right and downward and turn it fingers uppermost, keeping your attention fixed on it. Turn the left hand back toward the spectators and point to the closed right hand as it “crumbles” the coin away. Open the right hand and show it empty.

      This sleight is especially useful in vanishing a small number of coins, and the action is exactly the same as for one, the coins being held in a stack with each flat on top of the other. When the coins fall into the left hand they make a jingle which sounds as if they actually had been taken in the right hand.

      Whether you are going to vanish one or several coins you should first actually take the coin(s) in the right hand using the French Drop moves, then place the coin(s) on the table momentarily, pull back the sleeves, pick them up and in apparently repeating the moves, execute the sleight. The action appears the same and the illusion is convincing.

      The French Drop can also be employed to exchange one coin for another. To use it for this purpose, have a coin hidden in your right finger palm as you show another in your left hand. Bring the right hand over and pretend to take the coin, but execute the sleight and retain it in the left hand as the right hand closes and moves away with its coin. The moves can be used as a color change (by employing a copper and a silver coin) or simply to secretly exchange a borrowed coin for one of your own.

      A group of silver coins can be made to change to copper by employing these moves. The possibilities are numerous.

      THE REVERSE FRENCH DROP

      DR. E. M. ROBERTS

      I have given this vanish the above name because the moves resemble the regular French Drop, only they are reversed. Actually this is not so, but I seem to get this impression. Anyway, every trick must have some sort of a name, and this is as good as any. It was devised by Dr. E. M. Roberts of Amarillo, Texas.

      Balance a half dollar on the balls of the two middle fingers of the right hand as you exhibit it all around. Turn slightly to the left and drop the right thumb on top of the coin, then hold the left hand in a cupped position above the coin, Fig. 1.

      Cover the coin with the left hand as in Fig. 2, the left fingers grasping the right thumb. Next, lower the two middle fingers of the right hand away from the thumb, keeping the coin on the tips of these two fingers, Fig. 3. The closed left hand then moves backward off the extended right thumb, supposedly taking the coin. (The coin balanced on the tips of the two middle fingers remains hidden from the spectators’ view by the back of the right hand.) Then the two middle fingers press the coin into the right palm, Fig. 4, where it is retained as that hand makes a few passes over the closed left hand. (See Figs. 5 and 6, which are the rear and spectators’ view, respectively.) Finally the left hand is opened to show the coin gone.

      A feint should be made first, by actually taking the coin in the left hand using the moves described above, then in apparently repeating the moves execute the sleight and vanish the coin as described.

      To make this a complete vanish drop the right hand to the side and sleeve the coin using the Dr. Roberts’ Method as described in Chapter VII.

      THE ELUSIVE SILVER DOLLAR

      AL SAAL

      A silver dollar