the right foot to one side exposing the coin on the floor. With your left side toward the spectators bend down to pick up the coin with the left hand. The right hand secretly disposes of its coin in the right trousers cuff on the side away from the audience.
Chapter III. Coin Vanishes
Standard Vanish • Simple Vanish • Over the Top • The Tunnel Vanish • Thumb Palm Vanish • The Drop Vanish • The Bobo Coin Vanish • The Slide Vanish • The Illusive Coin Pass • A Coin Vanish The Pinch Vanish • Gone • The New Era Coin Go • The Flyaway Coin Behind the Back • The French Drop • The Reverse French Drop • The Elusive Silver Dollar • The Wrist Watch Vanish • The Pulse Trick The Cranium Vanish • Vanish with the Aid of a Handkerchief • The “Heads and Tails” Vanish • Vanish for Several Coins • A Trio of Vanishes
It is impossible to become a good coin conjurer without mastering several methods for vanishing a coin. Here, combined with some of the old standbys, are the best modern methods, contributed by leading coin manipulators.
STANDARD VANISH
This is given the above title because it holds a high place in my repertoire of coin vanishes. I use this one as much as I do any other because it is so practical and easy to do under almost any conditions.
The coin rests near the ends of the two middle fingers of the right hand, Fig. 1. Right hand describes a counter clockwise movement, turning back upward as the fingers curl inward and press the coin into the classic palm position where it is retained. This action takes place under the guise of supposedly placing the coin into the left hand, Fig. 2. The left hand closes as if it holds the coin. Look at and point to the left hand. Then snap the right fingers at the left hand. Open the left hand slowly and mysteriously. The coin is gone.
Reproduce it from behind the knee or keep it concealed, according to the trick at hand.
SIMPLE VANISH
This is a first-rate coin vanish, and in spite of its simplicity, ranks with the best of them.
Show the coin in the right hand where it rests in the classic palm position. Finger-tips of the left hand gently touch the back of the right hand, Fig. 1. The right hand turns inward and over and apparently drops the coin into the waiting left hand, but actually the coin is retained in the right hand, palmed, as the left hand closes, Fig. 2.
With the right middle finger, tap the closed left hand once. Draw the left hand into a tighter fist by pressing the tips of the fingers into the palm, the thumb angling over the top of the fingers. Placing the fingers in this position makes the next move possible. Open the left hand, slowly and gracefully, a finger at a time, beginning with the little finger. When all the fingers are extended and apart the hand is shown on both sides. It is empty.
Care must be taken to perform this vanish slowly and gracefully. Grace is the important element. Make it look like you really dumped the coin into the left hand. Actually do this a few times before a mirror, then repeat this action but retain the coin palmed in the right hand.
Don’t open the left hand too quickly. Take your time and you will have a beautiful and effective coin vanish.
OVER THE TOP
Here is a vanish I have taught in my coin lectures throughout the country. It has always been well received. I think you will find it off the beaten path.
The coin rests on the two middle fingers of the right hand, near the tips. The left hand is nearby, held palm up and about the same level. Left hand moves to the right until it crosses over the palm of the right hand. Right fingers toss the coin upward, Fig. 1, into the left hand which immediately turns over, palm downward, the coin falling into the right as the left hand closes, Fig. 2. Almost simultaneously the right hand is turned so its back is toward spectators and the second, third, and fourth fingers curl inward slightly on the coin, retaining it where it has fallen. At this juncture the backs of both hands are toward the audience and the right forefinger is pointing to the closed left hand which supposedly holds the coin.
All of these moves must blend into one continuous action. There can be no hesitation. The coin merely makes a hop, skip and jump from the tips of the right fingers onto the left hand and then falls back into the right hand.
After a slight pause the left hand is opened and shown empty.
The only manipulation to this vanish is the knack of tossing the coin from the right middle fingers up into the left hand. The rest of the maneuver follows easily and naturally.
THE TUNNEL VANISH
Hold the left hand palm downward and close it into a loose fist so only the thumb and forefinger touch. The right hand holds the coin horizontally between the forefinger and thumb—thumb is on top, Fig. 1.
It will be noted that if the coin is pushed into the left fist and then released it will fall to the floor because of the slightly open left fingers. But if the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand are extended when the coin is released it will fall onto these fingers instead. And this is exactly what happens. The coin merely goes over the left thumb and as soon as it is inside the left fist it is turned loose. The extended right second, third, and fourth fingers catch it and curl inward, holding it where it lands, Fig. 2. Without hesitation the right hand moves a few inches to the right with its back toward the onlookers. Left hand closes into a tighter fist and the right forefinger gives a final poke into the left fist.
It appears that the coin was pushed into the left fist and then given a final poke with the right forefinger.
The left hand is then turned palm up, opened, and shown empty. The coin has faded into nothingness.
Done smartly, this is a coin vanish to fool the closest observer.
THUMB PALM VANISH
This vanish is about as simple and easy as they come, yet it is quite effective.
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