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I have a £2/50p coin unique that has become extremely pale since i've got it , and when I see other magicians using £2 versions they seem
to have gotten darker!
Is there a specific place I can put it or something specific to make the coin actually look old because anyone who I
perform it on says it looks fake as well!
I'm becoming really frustrated with this problem!

Sorry if this is in the wrong section by the way!
-Saav

Anybody?!

With new gaffs that look "fresh from the mint" I just carry them in my pocket for a bit, that way they get a natural patina and get gently bashed, scratched slightly, and generally "aged" like a real coin. If you look at £2 coins you get in change, they sometimes age in different ways - some lighter, some darker, sometimes weirdly greenish. I've also noticed that when I get a new gaff and practice with it a lot, it can get quite shiny just from frequent handling (oo-er).

I reckon you should try just keeping it in your pocket for a bit. Probably best if you keep it in a different pocket to the rest of your change, since with this particular gaff you're very likely to spend it by accident.

Thanks for the reply hedges!

Its strange because the coin has always been around in my pocket or in my wallet separate from my change.
I also have a £2-2p which was dark when I recieved it (got this like 3 months ago) (2003 was the date on the coin) but now it has become the same as the £2-50 one and is starting to become pale. I've seen other people using thier £2 coin un****s yet they age each time they use them - I'm trying one last resort by placing it in a leather
passport holder, If that has no effect then I will be out of ideas.

Considering that they're made from actual coins it's odd that it's aging in an unusual way. Have you thought maybe about polishing it up, then "pocket aging" it again from scratch?

Thats exactly what I'm thinking - Has anybody out there have the £2 version and noticed if its actually aged or become pale through use?
If the £2-2p goes pale aswell comptely - I don't know what I'm going to do as that is my favourite version

That's my second £2/50p coin down the drain due to being pale aswell now. Used brassicas metal polish and it made it look shiny but now it just looks plastic

I bought my £2/50p version just over 12 months ago and the colours are still the same, as would be expected from an item made from genuine coins. I have an ungaffed £2 in the same original ziplock bag as the Unique coins and it still looks the same as it did this time last year. Could it be something to do with the way you store the coins? Metal polish is never a good idea on coins as it's very abrasive - for coins which have darkened due to a build up of grease and normal handling a liquid cleaner might be better but a soak in Coca Cola or a dilute solution of brown vinegar will clean them effectively. I can't even begin to figure out how your coins are getting lighter - has the shop you bought them from offered any thoughts and advice?

There may be another explanation.

I used to assume that all gimmicked coins and shells were engineered from genuine coins. However, over the years I've seen a few cheap shells which didn't seem to be so. They also didn't sound like the usual decent shells which I knew were made from a real coin.
I wonder if they also do this with other gimmicks aswell ?

Perhaps your gimmick is going a funny colour because it isn't an actual coin. If this is indeed the case I'd be very careful of an abrasive polish - it will gradually be taking off the surface exposing the true metal underneath, making the funny colour worse.


Jim

Jim I'm absolutely positive that it is manufactured from genuine coins, this was from Alakazam!

Mandrake I also tried this with my old £2/50p and it also went pale by keeping it in a plastic ziplock bag. I had a replacement £2-2p (my old one had the center fall out) And keeping this in the ziplock has surprisingly kept it in the state it already was in when i received it (slightly aged). I don't know why this happening but I am getting quite p***ed off as I seem to be the only one having this problem If anyone would like to see a picture then just drop a PM with your email if you want to have a closer look at the problem.

-Saav

Have you had a word with Alakazam about this problem?

Yes, They had no idea what to do and they said the coins need cleaning from time to time, however this has in a way made the situation worse with the brasso polish and all.

If the coins are fading of their own accord then cleaning won't be relevant. If the coins are supposed to like like a genuine £2 coin and they're looking less and less convincing, perhaps the suppliers should exchange yours for a new one and get the 'iffy' item checked out - their suppliers will need to know and rectify matters.

Mandrake wrote:If the coins are fading of their own accord then cleaning won't be relevant. If the coins are supposed to like like a genuine £2 coin and they're looking less and less convincing, perhaps the suppliers should exchange yours for a new one and get the 'iffy' item checked out - their suppliers will need to know and rectify matters.

I was told by another magician friend who had this coin (extremely aged and authentic god knows how ) to keep it away from oxygen, which i did but only seemed to work with my £2/2p coin - I do not think Alakazam would replace this as I had special ordered it to be non-magnetic, (I fear most magicians will now think I'm mad ) and was a one-off order. I could give it a go however...

Certainly a difficult situation for you - even so, the supplier might appreciate the feedback to help avoid the same problems in future.