Coin Trick: A Must Know for a Fun Older Relative

Coin tricks are an important skill for anyone wishing to be a fun older relative. There are two types of coin tricks; those that require skill and those that don't. I'll start by teaching a great coin trick that requires no skill, other than a little bit of convincing acting.

This trick must be performed for (at the least) a small group of people. This trick is often described as a "barehanded vanish of a coin under test conditions." Sounds impressive, no? Do not underestimate this trick because of its nefarious methodology. It is precisely that direct and nefarious methodology that makes this a powerful effect. It is a better trick than many others requiring a significant level of skill.

Allow a coin to be examined. If you are going for bonus older relative points, the coin should be a silver dollar, or at the very least a 50 cent piece. Roll up your sleeves. Do not neglect this important opportunity to build suspense.

Place the coin on your outstretched palm. Cover the coin with a pocket silk. Allow a member of the audience to reach underneath the silk and touch the coin to verify its presence. Repeat this process with several other members of the audience. When a number of people have verified that the coin is still present, you will very slowly (and with maximum dramatic impact) remove the silk, showing that the coin has vanished.

Later the coin may be reproduced in any manner you desire.

Have you figured out the method yet? As they say in magic books: the secret is simplicity itself. The last person to reach underneath the pocket silk was in actuality, your confederate. This person (choose wisely, you'll want someone who is above all suspicion) removed the coin in the lightly curled fingers of his or her hand while pretending to verify that the coin was still there.

This person may later "plant" the coin in an agreed upon location, or you may use a "pre-planted duplicate" to reproduce the coin, if desired.

There you go. Perform it correctly, and you'll have one of the strongest coin effects in the history of magic.