talkmagic.co.uk

Hi, I'm looking to buy a split coin and can't decide whether to buy a new £2 coin version or a half dollar version.

The £2 version has an advantage as it's UK currency and makes more sense carrying this around, it's a good size and a thicker coin, however the half dollar version is also tempting as it could be used alongside my half dollar shell possibly for some effects.

I'm not sure which to buy what would you advise? there is hardly much noticeable difference in the price the half dollar is only £5 cheaper.

Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated.

thanks

Damian

if you already have the dollar shell then go for the dollar coin, think about this giving you a 3 into one vanish or coins across, not wanting to give too much away in the open section.

If you live in England get the £2 coin it will make more sense to spectators and they will not be as suspicious than they would if you had a dollor.

Thank you both for your replies both are valid points particularly regarding the ability to perform the coins across. However I still like the idea of carrying the £2 coin on me and if asked to perform unexpectedly I won't need to worry about explaining why I happen to be carrying a half dollar around with me. The easier thing would be to buy both however due to a recent bout of C.U.P.S I can't justify spending out on both.

At the moment it is level pegging in my decision:

£2 split coin - 1 Half Dollar - 1

well just to muddy the waters if you don't wan't to use a half then get yourself a £2 shell, same diference.

Personally, I would have to agree with magicdiscoman. You have the half dollar shell and it will make an excellent combination.

If you are presenting it as magic, a US coin isn't going to be too suspicious. If your just showing mates down the pub, questions will obviously be asked so work out who you are going to be presenting it too.

Well, I'm mainly going to perform it specifically as magic. However I like the option to have something on me which I can perform impromptu, that's the main reason for considering the £2 coin.

Why not buy both?

If you get paid for your gigs, then the cost would be justified!

Not currently being paid for gigs, just at the stage where I am doing some private performances for friends and family. Have my first booking for a wedding in September which I offered to do free therefore disposable income is not too great at the moment.

I am more of a card man but want to get into coin magic as well. I think I will go for the half dollar one then order the £2 coin at a later date that way I would have already used a split coin to know whether I need to by the £2 at all. Alternatively I may by two if they can do a deal on them.

I have the fortunate position of being paid to do magic and I'd say go for the local currency everytime. There's nothing that screams gimmick more loudly than someone producing US dollars while performing in Australia for example.

I recently returned from Canada and had gimmicks made in Canadian "loonies" for my coin work as well making a gimmick for Extreme Burn in Canadian dollars. - This is the performers luxury though, the cost is justifiable as the "gig will pay for it".

If you do go for the half dollar option I'd use the coin in conjuction with some other coin effects. Get the audience used to holding/examining the coins then switch in your gimmicks - the coins across routine seems like an obvious finale.

As an aside whilst performing in San Francisco I was questioned numerous times about US half dollars - they are almost entirely out of circulation over ther and some people were more eager to examine them for nostalgia's sake than out of any suspicion!

I have the fortunate position of being paid to do magic and I'd say go for the local currency everytime. There's nothing that screams gimmick more loudly than someone producing US dollars while performing in Australia for example.

I recently returned from Canada and had gimmicks made in Canadian "loonies" for my coin work as well making a gimmick for Extreme Burn in Canadian dollars. - This is the performers luxury though, the cost is justifiable as the "gig will pay for it".

If you do go for the half dollar option I'd use the coin in conjuction with some other coin effects. Get the audience used to holding/examining the coins then switch in your gimmicks - the coins across routine seems like an obvious finale.

As an aside whilst performing in San Francisco I was questioned numerous times about US half dollars - they are almost entirely out of circulation over ther and some people were more eager to examine them for nostalgia's sake than out of any suspicion!

thats why i tend to use a lot of chineses coins and mr ledveridges colour coins but the way i get around the problem is to say I use american coins because there so big compared to our regular curency, makes it harder to cheat and easier for you to see, i usualy compare them to a 5p amd 1p just to enfesise the size diference, psychology 101.

magicdiscoman wrote:the way i get around the problem is to say I use american coins because there so big compared to our regular curency, makes it harder to cheat and easier for you to see, i usualy compare them to a 5p amd 1p just to enfesise the size diference, psychology 101.

That is really clever. Thanks for that. I've had suspicious looks with half dollars before, but now I have a response.

Well the half dollar split coin won and I recently purchased this along with Craig Petty's split happens DVD. I would like to thank El Satanico for his advice and I may well purchase a £2 split coin as well in the future.

In the meantime the explanation of using a half dollar because of their size is good enough for me and I think is very true, even if I wasn't using a gimmicked coin I would choose the half dolar coins to perform magic with just because I feel more comfortable with the size and they are more visual to the spectator than our small UK coins, even the £2 coin is smaller than a half dollar.

Thanks to everyone who responded as always I got some great advice and opinions.

just ordered myself split happens and the half split coin as a combo from world of magic, nice deal.