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leefoley3 Elite user Texas 402 Posts |
Hello All,
I am curious if anyone has Todd Lassen's Unexpanded Half Dollar Sh**l and the coins that accompany them. With all due respect, I am not asking for a review of Todd's work. I have heard a ton of excellent reviews/comments regarding his work and am confident that he provides perfection when it comes to his coins. Just curious about the UNEXPANDED half dollar and the coins (four, I believe) that come with it. As the sh**l is unexpanded, the coins are sh**med to fit. The pictures of them look incredible. Does anyone out there have this set? How are the accompanying coins feel/handle, etc. I appreciate any input that you may be able to provide. Thanks in advance. Lee. If you would prefer to PM me with any info in regards to the unexpanded sh**l and the coins that accompany it please feel free to do so. Thanks again, Lee.
In December of '06 I was diagnosed with a very rare cancer, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans. One in a million people worldwide are diagnosed with this type of cancer annually. Sarcomas account for 1% of all cancers. Knowledge is power!
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Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I have also heard great things about the quality of work in these products. However, my real question is why would I ever use an unexpanded shell unless I could not get an expanded shell? The expanded shell should work with most coins of the same size. An unexpanded shell would only work with additional gimmicked coins. I do always have an expanded half on me. (O.K. maybe not in the shower. But who knows?) Shells make for great magic until you send them to the dry cleaners. Educate me.
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
David Neighbors V.I.P. 4911 Posts |
Hi Bob,
The Only reson You need An Expanded Shell Is if you are going to borrow the coins! Bobo's Started That With "Borrow 4 half dollors"!Now days You can not Borrow 4 halfs most of the time and you have to use your own! So you mite as well make them look as nice as you can! If you are useing the old coins all of them are not always the same size! With my barbar halfs that happens all the time so to get four the same size that fit my shell well to get 4 and a shell from Tod saves me a lot of time! you mite want to get 1 or 2 more from him at the same time just in case you lose one, so you have a back up! So that is my 2 cent's worth! To have 4 and A shell that look as best as thay can I think is worth it!Ok Take care mam! Best David Neighbors The Coinujurer |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I have a set of four halves with a shell made by Englishman Bob Swadling (of Swadling Swindle fame). They are perfecto... also, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the Swadling Swindle the FIRST used of magnetic and shimmed coins?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
Here is the deal as I understand it:
With an expanded shell, the coin is actually stretched out to a larger size so it will fit over other coins and then hollowed out. This means that the face is distorted compared to other halfs. The plus is that you can borrow the 4 halfs, which will PROBABLY be dirty so they won't match your half, and will probably be the wrong size. Regular coins vary in size, and often are not even perfectly round... some parts have a differnt radius than other parts. Now, an Un-expanded and 4 shaved coin set, means that all of your coins and the shell will be the same color and luster, so they will match. It also means that the shell itself will not be distorted at all so that the faces match EXACTLY with the other coins. The other coins, will not only be made perfectly round and re-milled, but will also be the perfect size for your shell, the shaving comes off the outside ring of the coin and therefore is very hard to notice, compared to the visual distortion when getting extra space from an expanded shell. Now the ONLY downside is that you won't be able to borrow the coins, which you really can't do anymore! I say get them |
leefoley3 Elite user Texas 402 Posts |
Thanks everyone! I appreciate your input. MacGyver is right. An expanded shell does distort the appearance of the coin (even if just slieghtly) and the expansion naturally, makes the shell a bit thinner than an ordinary coin. By the way, MacGyver, you hit it again in regards to the unexpanded shell. No distortion. Coins that accompany are guaranteed to fit the shell perfectly. Not too loose, not too tight.
The origin of the topic was a review by someone that actually owns a set of these Lassen coins. A fellow Café member sent me a PM in regards to my request. So basically I have my answer, but again, I do want to sincerely thank each of you that did respond. All the best, Lee.
In December of '06 I was diagnosed with a very rare cancer, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans. One in a million people worldwide are diagnosed with this type of cancer annually. Sarcomas account for 1% of all cancers. Knowledge is power!
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KirkG Inner circle 1391 Posts |
Actually Macgyver is wrong. With all due respect!
Todd Lassen supplies four matching coins with his Expanded s***ls. It doesn't matter if they are contemporary or old dirty soft Morgans, they match. Also, I challenge you to see the distortion and certainly no spectator will notice it. There is also another way to build them and that is to add a ring below the bezel. This is considered to be an inferior method. The real reason for non expanded was that was the first way they were made, since the technique to do the expanded wasn't available. Another benifit to the NON expanded, AND THIS IS A BIGGIE, is that they fit in an Okito coin box. Talk about a powerful weapon. Kirk Grodske |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-12-11 12:12, KirkG wrote: All the Okito Boxes I have (and most of the ones sold today) fit expanded Kennedy shells with no problem. I have the Jim Zachary Boxes, and Shamrock Boxes, I know Roth's box set also holds exp. shells. |
Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Thanks for bringing the old guy up to speed.
The expanded shells I have do get discolored around the edges. So about every two years they get a cleaning. And you are right. They will not fit into any box or cup gimmicked for halves. But since I carry Hopping Halves with me all the time, the shell and a matching coin are always available. My other little stunt (just to mess with my magician friends) is that I have had several made with the tail up on the shell instead of the normal head up shell. Thus, dates mean nothing. And the coin can change dates even as part of the trick. (In my case they have nine years of bad luck 1980-1971.) This also allows me to use any half through the table. (The one that falls into their hand then can carry a label with a prediction used in another trick.) In practice I use all 1971 and 1980 halves just so I don't spend one by mistake. Any years would have been fine. These two years just happened (probably because of availability). The only sticking problems I have ever had were the English Pennies on a cold day. The halves have never given me the problem. You have given me an idea. I have a Morgan dollar shell and a matching double headed one from origins unknown. With four regular Morgans made to fit the shell and a double tail coin, routines would be possible that would prove why the silver dollars had to go. Thanks again. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
tony555 New user 24 Posts |
Un-expanded shells for me would win every time.
Bing in England I have a 2p on that is so good I can offer it out together with a couple of "normal" coins and it is never detected mainly because the edge of the shell covers the milled coin completely whereas an expanded shell does not. Of Course the expanded shell has its uses, depending on the trick you are performing. |
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