by Swest » Aug 29th, '06, 21:04
I also have a coin unique, and agree with the points made about it not being 100% examinable. In the magician's ideal world it would be, but hey we should earn our crust. At first I felt awkward switching it out for a regular coin, but with some work the presentation should sell it enough for you not to have to do that. I personally do two tricks mainly with it, one of which has been described by dat8962 - a very nice method; I personally use a glass or seethrough cup and perform it myself, as it is much more visual and takes the heat off as people immediately assume it was somehow an act of skill rather than magic..... a few minutes scrabbling on the floor, or a quick repetition with hands surrounding the glass soon helps to disperse any such thought! The other method I use employs a signed coin (in the penny pound version it is the 1p that is signed). The basic method (hopefully not exposing) is as follows:
Borrow a 1p from someone, often under the pretext that you have a £1 but would like a 1p too, whilst the matching gimmick is palmed. Have the borrowed 1p signed (careful which side). Have a sheet of paper examined, then fold the paper up concealing the palmed item beneath it, holding the borrowed 1p against the paper. Thanks to the gimmick, you can imagine what happens there. A large glass is then examined, whilst you turn the paper over, and place it on the glass, with the *ahem* borrowed 1p in plain view (here is where the care over which side was signed pays off). If you then apply moonbeam's handling, perhaps whilst a spec holds the paper in place, you will get the usual effect, plus the startling revelation of the signed 1p inside the glass. Accept the applause graciously.
Please PM if you want any more information, mods please edit ruthlessly at will.