the coin held between the right first and second fingers, Fig. 1. Place the open left hand in front of the coin, and under this cover bend the first two fingers inward and thumb palm the coin in the right hand, Fig. 2. Quickly straighten the first and second fingers and close the left fingers around them. Move the left fist away to the left, as if removing the coin from the right two fingers, which now separate. To all appearances the coin is now in the left fist—actually it is thumb palmed in the right hand. Turn the left fist palm uppermost. Simultaneously transfer the coin in the right hand from the thumb palm position to the classic palm position and snap the fingers over the closed left hand. This is a subtle way of saying that coin is not in the right hand. Open the left hand to show the coin gone.
To transfer the coin from the thumb palm to the classic palm: Bend the two middle fingers inward to the surface of the thumb palmed coin, right thumb bending slightly and pushing the coin lower in the hand. The middle fingers carry the coin from the thumb palm to the classic palm position under cover afforded by snapping the fingers.
This last move should be mastered by all coin workers since many uses will be found for it.
THE DROP VANISH
MILTON KORT
At the outset the coin rests on its side at the middle joint of the right forefinger, Fig. 1. The hand should be held perfectly relaxed with the fingers curled inward naturally. Furthermore the hand must be tilted very slightly forward so the lower part of the hand will be closest to the body.
The waiting left hand is palm upward and a few inches lower than the left hand. Both hands move toward each other and just as the right hand is over the left it tosses the coin into the air about half an inch—just enough to clear the forefinger—and it is caught in the same hand (right) in finger palm position at the base of the third and fourth fingers, Fig. 2.
The reason for holding the right hand as just described should now be apparent. With the right hand turned slightly forward the coin merely lands at the base of the third and fourth fingers and stays there without any additional movement of the fingers. In fact, the right fingers must not move at all, but should be sufficiently curled at the beginning so the coin can be retained when it lands. A few trials will be necessary to get the correct tilt of the right hand so the coin will fall from the forefinger, land at the base of the last two fingers and be retained as described. Remember to keep the right hand completely relaxed and you will experience no difficulty in mastering the sleight.
The hands come together just as the coin lands on the lower right fingers. The illusion is that the coin falls down into the left hand. Close the left fingers as the hands are separated. Do not attempt to palm the coin at this stage, but merely hold it where it lands in the right hand by bending the third and fourth fingers a little as the right forefinger points to the closed left hand. After a brief pause the left hand slowly crumbles the coin to nothingness and the hand is shown empty.
A prettier and more convincing method of vanishing a coin has not been devised. At least, I do not know of it.
The sleight can also be used as a switch or as a pass.
As a switch, use it this way: Have one coin concealed in the right hand in finger palm position at the base of the third and fourth fingers. The other coin is lying on the table.
Pick up the coin from the table with the left hand and place it flat on the middle joint of the right forefinger. This should be done under the pretext of showing the left hand empty. Now as you go through The Drop Vanish moves the finger palmed coin is released and falls into the waiting left hand below, while the other coin drops down to finger palm position, occupying the place originally held by the finger palmed coin. At first the sleight will appear a little awkward when used as a switch but with a little practice you will find it quite easy.
The illusion is enhanced if both coins are of the same denomination. The left hand can show its coin momentarily before the fingers close over it.
As a pass, use it this way: Show three coins on the table. Pick up one of them with the right hand and pretend to place it in the left, but retain it classic palmed in the right instead. The left hand is closed. Pick up coin number two with the right hand and apparently place it in the left, but execute The Click Pass (a), (page 41). To the spectators it appears that you are holding two coins in your left hand—the sound created by The Click Pass offering audible proof that this is so. Actually the left hand holds only one coin, while the other is classic palmed in the right. While reaching for the third coin with the right hand, transfer the coin in that hand from classic palm to finger palm position, so it will lie at the base of the third and fourth fingers. Pick up the third coin with the right forefinger and thumb and slide it back to the middle joint of the forefinger in position for the Drop Vanish. Now execute the Drop Vanish moves. As the coin drops from the right forefinger it lands on the finger palmed coin and creates the exact sound it would have if it had fallen into the left hand on top of the coin(s) there. The illusion is perfect. The left hand apparently holds three coins, but actually it holds only one. The other two are finger palmed in the right hand.
Of course, these additional suggestions are not offered as tricks in themselves but as a means for accomplishing other effects.
Many other ideas will suggest themselves by experimenting with the two moves—The Click Pass and The Drop Vanish.
THE BOBO COIN VANISH
The main point in favor of this and the three coin vanishes that follow is an illusive element called retention of vision. In other words, not only does the coin actually appear to be placed in the left hand—the spectators think they see it in that hand AFTER the hands separate. The result of the perfect illusion these sleights create is complete deception.
Hold a half dollar by its edge between the tips of the right thumb and middle finger and place it squarely in the palm of the left hand, Fig. 1. Retain this grip on the coin as you close your left fingers over it. Open the left first two fingers so the spectators may see that the half dollar is actually in the left hand, Fig. 2.
Although the following moves are carried through as one complete action they will be described separately for better understanding.
Close the first two fingers of the left hand over the coin and hold that hand quite loosely and relaxed. Left little finger rests on outer joint of the right thumb. Study the position of the hands in Fig. 2. The left little finger and the outer joint of the right thumb act as a pivot for the two hands as they turn inward together. The left hand turns clockwise as the right hand turns counterclockwise. And both must turn simultaneously, until the backs of both hands are toward the spectators, Fig. 3. The right thumb and middle finger still retain their grip on the coin and they bend inward as the two hands turn over. Hands are still together at this point and the half dollar is outside the left fist. (Fig. 4 shows how the hands appear from the rear.)
