Hello again,
Having just posted my first product review I was slightly embarrassed when I noticed that you guys are posting far more comprehensive formats than my original post.. So, here's a more comprehensive review of "Coin Unique" (based on Tom's review format, which I really liked - thks Tom) :
Coin Unique
Available from
http://www.magictricks.co.uk/, also available from lots of other outlets, just pump the trick name into google..
Price: £29.99 (if you cannot bring yourself to part with the cash, go to ebay)
Category: Close up magic/Coin Effects and Utility
Difficulty: 1 out of 5
They say:
Effect: Whilst holding a pound coin and one penny piece in your hand, you immediately make the penny disappear in front of a spectators eyes!
Description: Numerous effects can be performed with this. Eddie Gibson has a reputation as one of top coin magic manufacturers in the world and looking at this you can see why. Coin Unique also comes with instructions on how to perform many other tricks.
I say:
Now, I know that, for many of the very accomplished magicians here that this effect may been seen as slightly simplistic (you are basically just making two coins turn into one) but I wanted to say that, of all the effects (some great, some terrible) that I have invested in during my short tme in close-up, this is by far the best investment I have made.
This little utility allows you to show two coins (one UK pound, one UK penny) clearly in your hand and then, with a quick closing and opening of your hand, a complete vanish of the penny. The method is very simple and the beauty of the trick is really in the quality of the item, this thing looks just like a real £1 coin once the trick is complete.
Some downsides :
The main downside is really the limited scope for the effect (although I have found some great ways of "spicing it up" - I now show the effect whilst the coins are in the spectators hand !). In my view, though, this is a perfect effect for beginners who would like to get into close-up, coin magic. The device really protects you against discovery and is great for building the confidence to move on to move complicated effects. I presented the effect at a BBQ recently and had people offering decent money to reveal the effect to them...a great feeling for a novice magician.
Another slight downside is that the reset on the trick needs a little privacy (I tend to either just slip the coin into my pocket and move on after the effect or continue to just use it as a normal £1 coin for another routine).
The only other slight negative for me is the price. At close to £30 this is fairly expensive. My view on this, though, is that you will get lots and lots of action from this effect and its quality is so good that you should never need to replace it. Frankly, I would rather buy a quality item like this for £30 than three substandard tricks for a tenner each (of which I have purchased many...).
One other downside..Don't put it with your spare change...You will spend it !
Overall: 8.5/10
I cannot praise this effect enough and I have a feeling that, even years down the line (when I am a far better magician), this little baby will still be travelling in my pocket. I have scored it down to 8.5 because of price and limited scope only. This trick represents a great way of building some confidence in coin magic and (in 6 months and probably 50 demonstrations of this effect) NOBODY has sussed it !! I have even been handing the remaining coin out for examination and the quality is SO good that people still do not understand the trick even once they have having the coin !
Highly recommended for beginners to close-up..
Take care, Darren