Magic Tricks Revealed: The Secret Disappearing Coin

by: George Hutton

Html View | Print View Total views: 6 Word Count: 502
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 Time: 6:15 PM - 0 comments

Here is a fantastic up close magic trick that never fails to mesmerize any audience, regardless of how much experience they have watching skillful magic. This trick relies heavily on props, and you'll have to switch the props in and out quickly and without being noticed, but this trick will stun them all.

Here's how it will seem to your innocent audience. You have a regular wine glass, upside down on a table. You ask for a volunteer that doesn't mind parting with a coin for a few minutes. Let them know you will make it go away, and then come back, so they don't have to worry.

You place their coin next to the glass. You cover the glass with a napkin, and then lift up the glass and the napkin at the same time. You place the glass over the coin and remove the napkin. The coin has magically vanished, and is nowhere to be seen. You put the napkin, or handkerchief, back over the glass, and move it back to where it was before. The stunned audience will gasp with delight as the coin has magically reappeared. You simply give the coin back to the owner, and move on quickly to your next trick.

This is a simple gimmick, or setup trick. The trick is to have the glass face down on a colored tablecloth. White is best. Then get a piece of paper that is the same color and texture as the tablecloth, and carefully cut it, so that it is identical in shape to the rim of the glass. Then simply attach it to the rim of the glass using glue or rubber cement. Don't use tape, because they might see it.

As you put the glass over the coin, it will seem like the coin has gone away, when in reality it is snugly under the trick glass. When you move the glass back, away from the coin, the coin will become visible again.

This works best if you focus the attention on the actual napkin, or handkerchief that you will use to cover the glass with. A large silk handkerchief will be great for this. And make sure to explain that it's the handkerchief that will do the magic, and not the trick glass. You can make a big deal of waving the handkerchief around to show everybody the coin isn't hidden inside.

Make sure to keep your eyes and attention off the glass as much as possible. If anybody suspects the glass is part of the trick, then it might ruin it, so be careful. It helps to do this trick among many others where you have a table where you do the tricks, and a bunch of props off to the side. Also take care when you remove the glass, cover it with the magic handkerchief first, otherwise they will see the false bottom. Have fun with this.