talkmagic.co.uk

Hello

I've recently been getting into coin magic (Bobo etc.) and hence was wondering if it was worth investing £5 or so in a set of Half Dollars.

http://www.magicbox.uk.com/shop.php/sho ... p_419.html

On one hand, they seem to be a great size and weight; suitable for things where a larger coin is prefered (Muscle Pass etc.). They are also the status quo for many magicians as many gaft coins are made in this coin.

On the other hand however, is it normal for a UK magician to use American money in his close-up work? or is it too suspicious? In addtion, my local shop (Magicbox) does many gaft coins in 2 and 10p versions, which I currently use to practice.

Anyone have and advice or experience in this?

Elliott

ElliottPark wrote:Hello

I've recently been getting into coin magic (Bobo etc.) and hence was wondering if it was worth investing £5 or so in a set of Half Dollars.

http://www.magicbox.uk.com/shop.php/sho ... p_419.html

On one hand, they seem to be a great size and weight; suitable for things where a larger coin is prefered (Muscle Pass etc.). They are also the status quo for many magicians as many gaft coins are made in this coin.

On the other hand however, is it normal for a UK magician to use American money in his close-up work? or is it too suspicious? In addtion, my local shop (Magicbox) does many gaft coins in 2 and 10p versions, which I currently use to practice.

Anyone have and advice or experience in this?

Elliott

I was traveling in America last year and I saw this guy do the most amazing coin trick. He explained it to me after a few beers and even let me keep the coins to remember him by...this is what he taught me...

etc

It doesn't matter if you are in the UK and using american coins. English coins are now too small to do much with, I find.

Added to which, hlaf dollars haven't been in circulation for YEARS now in americanland and it doesn't stop merkin magicians using them

imho, as ever.

Actually, halves are still in circulation, they just aren't used often. Meanwhile, I think a coin is a coin, and most folks won't be suspicious.

An alternate solution would be this: there are other coins that are half dollar size, like chinese coins, etc.

There are probably more gaffed halves than any other coin - another reason they are worth using...

I think it depends alot on how and where you're performing. If you're down the pub with some mates then while pulling out a half and doing a few tricks isn't necessarily going to be overly suspisous, I think that using an ordinary British coin is going to look more natural. On the otherhand, if you're doing a paid gig then it really doens't matter what coins you use. I like to use old English coins, old pennies and silver sixpennies are my favourites.

I use half dollars all of the time. They're nice and shiny and their size makes them quite visible from a short distance. Most people and especially kids are quite curious about them, but not in a suspicious way, and this can be a great misdirection. A £2 coin is also a good size but a bit weightier. I'd suggest getting them (as it's not a huge investment really) but keep practising and p*****g with a whole range of sizes. I always keep an english penny and half dollar in my pocket wherever I go so I can have coins p****d all day long (if I used british coins the temptation would be for me to spent it on chocolate!).

Dirty Davey wrote:I think it depends alot on how and where you're performing. If you're down the pub with some mates then while pulling out a half and doing a few tricks isn't necessarily going to be overly suspisous, I think that using an ordinary British coin is going to look more natural. On the otherhand, if you're doing a paid gig then it really doens't matter what coins you use. I like to use old English coins, old pennies and silver sixpennies are my favourites.

Why is it suspicious performing informally but not if you're being paid? I fail to follow your logic...

I can see the logic. As an amateur I usually work with whatever I happen to have on me or can borrow and a foreign coin would be unexpected, look suspicious and ask to be examined.

A professional would be expected to carry "equipment" and probably something more showy.

Barry

Being from a land of the euro, I found 50c coins to work pretty well however whenever I collected enough to practise I usually ended up spending them. I seriously wasn't getting any coin practise. Anyways I asked my girlfriend to send me over a bunch of 10 pences from the land of the pound and indeed she did. When I preform I put the picture of your queen face up and call the coins "Queens" - never had a problem!

[quote="doyler35"]Being from a land of the euro, I found 50c coins to work pretty well however whenever I collected enough to practise I usually ended up spending them./quote]

Earlier, Shufton corrected mrgoat regarding American Half dollars being in circulation. US Silver Dollars are still in circulation, both the full size Eisenhower Dollars and the many smaller dollar coins that the general US population despise (the size it too close to a US quarter, or 25 cent piece). But all forms of half dollar and dollar coins, while still circulated, are very uncommon and seldom seen during one's (meaning non-magician) daily activities.

The question I have for the Europeans on this forum is: Are 50c/50p coins common and used often in one's general life?

Great, thanks for all your help everyone!

doyler35 wrote:The question I have for the Europeans on this forum is: Are 50c/50p coins common and used often in one's general life?

To answer your question, in the UK 50p coins are used as much as any other coin.

I've only seen one magician (Matthew J. Dowden) use them in his routine. It's probably down to the shape

Kolisar wrote:
The question I have for the Europeans on this forum is: Are 50c/50p coins common and used often in one's general life?

50c coins are used only to make up the change for smallish purchases - certainly not used a lot but one would miss the buggers if one didn't have them!

Someone wrote: A coin is a coin, and no one will be suspicious.
Rubbish. In Europe we use Euros. In Britain you use pounds. In the USA you use dollars. And if you are going to mix your currancies you need a good reason - and your audience need to believe your reason. Otherwise you are just doing tricks with fake coins.

magicofthemind wrote:I can see the logic. As an amateur I usually work with whatever I happen to have on me or can borrow and a foreign coin would be unexpected, look suspicious and ask to be examined.

A professional would be expected to carry "equipment" and probably something more showy.

Barry

Why is a half dollar 'more showy' than a 50p?

What has being paid has to do with using coins from another country.

I'm lost!

TonyB wrote:Someone wrote: A coin is a coin, and no one will be suspicious.
Rubbish. In Europe we use Euros. In Britain you use pounds. In the USA you use dollars. And if you are going to mix your currancies you need a good reason - and your audience need to believe your reason. Otherwise you are just doing tricks with fake coins.

Maybe your approach is wrong? I've used coins from America in England for years and years with no suspicion I am using 'fake coins' as you put it.

I've been doing copper/silver with an old penny and a half dollar for years. Neither coin is in circulation.

But whatever.

if your performing in the uk without the use of gimmicks, may i sugest that you invest in some half crowns, rather than half dollars.

they have a much better feel about them, and create audience interest in the uk. people recognise them.
however, there really is nothing wrong in performing effects using u.s coinage, should you want to.

its a coin... its not " an amercan coin" , it's just a coin.

something you have in your pockets from your last american trip, or something that you got in a handfull of change, or something you found down the back of the sofa....

maybe your gamblers lucky piece...

things that actually happen all the time.

the only case where you need to be curency specific , is if your going to borrow coins, and do something with them.