Magical Props For More Advanced Tricks
There are some magic tricks which look to the naked eye as though they are impossible. However, with the right props, the impossible very readily becomes possible as long as you are good enough at sleight of hand – and that is something that can only be arrived at through plenty of practice, and getting it wrong more times than enough.
One such trick is the “bitten coin”. It is simple enough as a premise – the illusionist approaches an audience member and asks to borrow a quarter or a similar coin. When the coin is handed over the illusionist raises it to his or her mouth and seems to “bite” a piece of it off. While the audience are getting over this feat of strength, the illusionist then “spits” the coin back together, as good as new. The trick here is sleight of hand, and a pre-fixed coin (so it is important to ask for a coin that you have a gimmicked version of!).
Similar tricks with similar props include folding coins – in which the same trick is performed but with a fold rather than a bite, and then struck against a table to make it “whole” again, as well as the karate coin trick, which involves appearing to push your finger through the coin and make a hole appear in the middle of it. In all such tricks, the biggest challenge is the misdirection that prevents the audience seeing you palm the intact coin and replace it with the gimmick – and that's magic!