Easy Coin Magic
Make a coin apparently disappear from inside a handkerchief using a clever hidden elastic-band secret.
Easy
Coin, Handkerchief & Elastic Band
10–20 Minutes
The magician places a coin into a handkerchief where the audience can apparently see and feel that it remains safely inside.
The handkerchief is turned and shaken. A moment later the coin seems to have completely disappeared.
Use a normal coin that is large enough to be easily seen by your audience.
A soft handkerchief or similar piece of cloth works best for concealing the method.
The elastic band is the secret device that traps the coin inside the folds of the handkerchief.
Before beginning, secretly place an elastic band around the fingers and thumb of the hand that will hold the handkerchief.
When the coin is placed into the cloth, the elastic band is released so that it closes around the handkerchief and secretly traps the coin inside a fold.
You can then hold and shake the handkerchief from another point. From the spectator's side, the coin appears to have vanished even though it is still securely hidden in the cloth.
Place the elastic band around the fingers and thumb of the hand that will hold the handkerchief.
Keep your hand relaxed so the band is not obvious. Place the handkerchief over this hand, completely concealing the preparation.
With your free hand, place the coin into the handkerchief.
Perform this action slowly and clearly. The spectators should be completely convinced that the coin is genuinely inside the cloth.
Allow the hidden elastic band to slide from your fingers and close around the handkerchief beneath the coin.
The band now traps the coin inside a small section of cloth. This is the secret that makes the vanish possible.
With the coin, firmly secured with the elastic band, you can now safely show the open handerchief.
Grab it by the two top corners and hold it open, with the side, that does not show the trapped coin, facing your audience.
Here you can see the side with the trapped coin, facing yourself.
After showing the empty cloth, casually fold the hanky in two and place it in your pocket.
This should be done in a natural way, so that the audience does not suspect that the coin is still inside.
To the audience, the coin has mysteriously disappeared.
The effect depends on the elastic band secretly closing around the handkerchief and trapping the coin in a concealed fold. The audience is then shown a different section of cloth, which feels empty because the coin is hidden elsewhere.
Keep your hand relaxed so the elastic band is not obvious and make the handkerchief cover look natural.
Perform the placement slowly and clearly so the spectators are convinced that the coin is genuinely inside the cloth.
A natural gentle shake helps the section you display feel empty while the coin remains securely trapped elsewhere in the handkerchief.
Keep the hand relaxed and make sure the handkerchief completely conceals the preparation.
The coin should appear to be placed naturally into the centre of the cloth before the band is released.
Once the coin is trapped, display another section of the handkerchief and avoid giving spectators an opportunity to examine the concealed fold.
Common Questions
You need a coin, a handkerchief or similar piece of cloth, and an elastic band.
The elastic band closes around the handkerchief and traps the coin inside a concealed fold of cloth.
From the spectator's side, the section of handkerchief being displayed feels empty and the coin appears to have vanished.