Modern Coin Magic. J. B. Bobo

      Effect: A half dollar placed in the right trousers pocket is caused to penetrate the cloth in a mysterious fashion.

      (a) Call attention to a half dollar clipped flat between the tips of the right first and second fingers, in position for finger palming. Holding the coin thus, the right hand enters the right trousers pocket. Immediately thumb palm the coin while the left forefinger presses against the outside of the pocket as if holding the coin. This action with the left forefinger is a natural one and serves as a bit of misdirection for the moves that follow. Withdraw the right hand with the coin hidden in the thumb palm. Next, release the coin from the thumb palm allowing it to fall onto the cupped right fingers. It is then pressed flat against the right leg as the left forefinger is taken away. At this moment the right hand lies flat against the right leg, fingers pointing downward. The coin is hidden underneath the fingers which press it to the leg.

      The right thumb pinches a small fold of cloth behind the upper portion of the coin. The right hand turns the coin over, downward, forming the fold over the coin. Maintain this fold with the left forefinger as the right hand moves away. Snap the right fingers. Then grasp the cloth below the fold and pull downward slowly, allowing the hidden coin to come into view. When the coin is about two-thirds the way out of the fold, slide the left forefinger downward on top of it to prevent it from falling to the floor.

      (b) In this version the coin is visibly dropped into the pocket, without the hand leaving sight of the audience.

      Two identical coins are required. Have one finger palmed in your right hand as you display the other between the tips of your left forefinger and thumb. Reach across your body with your right hand, hook the fingers in the left pocket opening and hold it wide open while you slowly and deliberately drop the coin from your left hand into that pocket. Be sure to make these moves in such a manner that there will be no doubt in the spectators’ minds that the coin did actually enter the pocket. Allow the finger palmed coin to drop on the cupped right fingers, then press it flat against the left leg and finish as described in the first version.

      Because the coin is actually seen to drop into the pocket this makes an excellent version to have on tap in case you have to repeat the trick before the same group of spectators.

      (c) Dave Coleman Method.

      Show the coin in the left hand. Execute The French Drop (page 79), as you pretend to take it with the right hand. Place the right hand (apparently holding the coin) in the right trousers pocket. The palm-inward left hand is brought over and placed flat against the right hand, which is still within the pocket. As this is done the coin is secretly deposited on the leg where it is held hidden underneath the left fingers. Actually the coin should be between the tips of the fingers of the two hands. Turn both hands over together, forming a vertical (and not a horizontal) fold in the cloth. Remove the left fingers from the fold, leaving the coin hidden underneath the cloth. The right fingers facilitate this action by holding the coin through the pocket until the left fingers are withdrawn. Retain this fold with the tip of the left thumb as you remove the right hand from the pocket.

      With the right thumb above and forefinger below, grip the coin by its edges through the cloth so its form can be seen. Apparently the coin is in the pocket. Now, press the right thumb and forefinger together which causes the coin to emerge, apparently through the fabric, in an uncanny manner. Catch the coin in the left hand as it falls from the fold. Shake the trousers leg with the right hand and give the last fading fold a flick with the forefinger.

      The Pocket Varnish (page 103) makes a fine follow-up trick. The two effects complement each other and blend perfectly into a nice routine.

      First, perform Through the Pocket (a) or (c). Then explain that if a coin will come through the pocket it should penetrate back through the cloth, into the pocket again. This you proceed to demonstrate by performing the Pocket Vanish.

      THROUGH THE HAND

      There are many occasions when the magician needs a little trick to perform on the spur of the moment—an incidental effect that can be done quickly without special props. This is just such an effect. I will describe three methods.

      (a) Clyde Cairy Method.

      A half dollar is shown in the left hand. The hand is then closed on the coin and turned over so the back of the hand is uppermost. The fingers work the coin partially out of the fist until it is barely held by the tips of the second and third fingers and the heel of the hand, Fig. 1. Care must be taken here lest the spectators glimpse the coin. Hold the left hand rather low, and watch your angles.

      Show the right hand empty and begin massaging the back of the left hand with the fingertips. The right thumb is underneath the left hand during this motion and prepares to steal the coin from the left hand. The right hand slows down its rubbing almost to a standstill. Then the left fingers release the coin so that it lies balanced horizontally on the top of the right thumb, Fig. 2. Suddenly lift up the right hand, then quickly bring it down, slapping the fingers on the back of the left fist.

      Centrifugal force causes the coin to leave the thumb as the right hand is brought down on the left, the coin being transferred from the thumb to the inside of the fingers, and is slapped down on the back of the left hand. The right hand is then taken away revealing the half dollar lying on the back of the left hand. The right hand removes the coin and the left hand is opened and shown empty. Apparently the coin has penetrated up through the back of the left hand.

      One of the first rules we learn in magic is never repeat the same trick before the same audience. But there are exceptions to all rules, and this one can be broken providing a different method is used to obtain the end result. The feat may be repeated in a slightly different manner by using the following version. The two versions blend perfectly.

      (b) Show the left hand empty, close it into a loose fist, and turn it over so the fingers will be underneath. Hold the half dollar near its edge between the tips of the right fingers and thumb. Press its milled edge against the back of the left hand, Fig. 3.

      Suddenly push the fingers of the right hand down over the coin. The illusion is that the coin is pushed through the back of the left hand. At this moment the coin is concealed behind the right fingers, which rest momentarily on the back of the left hand. Without changing the position of the right fingers and thumb, quickly move the hand about six or eight inches to the right, turning the left hand over and opening it at the same time. As the spectators see the empty left hand, say “Nothing in the hand.” Immediately swing the right hand back to the left, tossing the coin into the left hand as it closes and turns over. The right fingers assume the original position on the back of the left hand, as you add, “One more little rub and the coin goes right through.” Diminish the rubbing motion, finishing by separating the fingers and giving the last rub with the tip of the middle finger. This convincing move tends to show without saying so that the coin has left the right hand. Move the right hand aside as you open the left hand to display the coin.

      In the first version the coin penetrates the left hand from the inside out, while in the second version it penetrates from the outside in.

      (c) Ross Bertram Method.

      Face the spectators as you show a half dollar lying at the base of the first finger on your open left hand, Fig. 4. Place the left thumb on top of the coin and turn the hand over and close the fingers. As the hand turns over the thumb moves inward toward the body, carrying the coin with it. Coin will now be outside the fist, clipped by its edge by the thumb and base of the first finger, Fig. 5.