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Alright, a quick question

I'm mostly a card magic type of guy, and have just bought Bobo's Modern Coin Magic.

Now I'm not sure whether or not I should start practicing with a US half dollar or just with a regular Quarter.

I realize that a half dollar would be much easier to work with but I'm not sure if I'd actually be learning anything and have to restart with a smaller coin.

I figured that once I have the basic moves down with a slightly larger coin, I'd be able to move onto the smaller coins.

The thing is that with coin magic I'd probably want to borrow a coin and nobody really carries half dollars on them.

I guess half dollars are easier to see too.

Now that I've thoroughly confused myself, what's your input on this matter?

I'd say go wth the half dollars.
I'm quite unsure why you Americans hate your 50p pieces but alas it seems that no one has them on them! I asked loads of Americans who come into my workplace if they had any spare I could buy off them and the general answer was "Half dollars? Oooh boy I aint used one of them in a looooong time..."

Either way... I use half dollars to practice with. yeah they look out of place if you perform with them, but you can hand it out for nspection anyway. Furthermore, once you have the moves down with a half dollar, it's much easier to be able to use a normal smaller coin.

I started coin rolling with half dollars, and can now coin roll a 10p (much much smaller). I started palming with half dollars, and can now palm a £1 coin (about half the size)

So yeah. Be a bohemian. Carry half dollars on you.
Just don't spend 'em Practice hard with them instead. Then, when you got the moves down, you cna be an impromptu wizard with just a handful of change and a deck of cards.



Furthermore, I recommended On The Spot with Greg Wilson. There's several effects in there that use coins, pocket change etc and some great other bits too!

Alright, this is somewhat of a random question, but where did you get ahold of half dollars?

You can buy them from the US mint but I'm not looking for 35 dollars worth of them

http://www.nothingupmysleeve.co.uk/marketplace/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=105

Try here

meh. i have a huge collection of half dollars. but im one of those who hates using the half dollars. i cant roll it at all, but yet i can roll the quarter with ease. dunno, i like using the quarters cause they are impromtu, but the half dollars are more visual. no doubt about that. i prefer quarters cause you can spend it anytime too

I got Half Dallers from NUMS and they are excellent and excellent value

The half dollar is technically out of circulation. I think they still mint very small amounts but it is not common to have one unless you are a coin collector or you went to the bank and asked for one. In all the years I worked retail in the states I never once saw a half dollar go through. I did see one 2 dollar bill though. Which I promptly bought from my register and wondered why the dude spent it.

They are more or less novelty money

I've been practicing coin magic for the last couple of months or so, always using our UK 10ps. It's very much an uphill struggle working with smaller coins but I'm really reaping the benefits now so try it if you're willing to be frustrated for a while!

i1011i wrote:They are more or less novelty money

A couple of years ago a friend got me a lot of half dollars from Las Vegas - she worked in one of the Casinos so I guess they might still be in use and available in that area.

I would get the half dollar from NUMS and actually checked that out. The problem is that I live in the US and I'd rather not get the coins shipped from like Europe (just assuming it's from Europe because of the Euro symbol, somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

fireshower wrote:I would get the half dollar from NUMS and actually checked that out. The problem is that I live in the US and I'd rather not get the coins shipped from like Europe (just assuming it's from Europe because of the Euro symbol, somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

Yep I'm afraid it is. But i have seen these on American websites for $2.99

I always use quarters. They are probably the most common coin in the States or Canada.

I use 10ps they are the same size as quarters which most magicians use for coin magic