This is a simple list of books and Videos for beginners to get themselves started with.

These are required reading/watching for any-one wanting to learn coin magic.


Coin Magic Books and Videos
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Books
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"NEW Modern Coin Magic".....(Hardback) by J.B.Bobo
"Coin Magic".......................(Hardback) by Richard Kaufman
"Expert Coin Magic".............(Hardback) by David Roth
"Magic by Gosh"..................(Hardback) by Pat Page & Albert Goshman
"Self working Coin Magic".....(Softback) by Karl Fulves


Videos
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"The complete introduction to coin magic"....(DVD)....by Michael Ammar
"Basic Coin Magic 1 & 2"............................(Video)..by David Stone
"Quick & Casual Close up"..........................(DVD)....by Sol Stone
"Easy to master money miracles"................(Video)..by Micheal Ammar
"Expert Coin Magic videos volumes 1-3 "......(Video)..by David Roth

This list is small, please add to it if you wish so that others can find what they want easily.

I don't agree with some of your list for beginners.

Coin Magic and Expert Coin Magic books are not for beginners neither is the Easy to Master Money Miracles series. All of those items you need to know the foundations of concealments, fake transfers, etc. or you will be lost. Absolute beginners won't be able to use those books or videos yet until they get the basics.

David Roth's Expert Coin Magic videos volumes 1-3 should be added to the list of videos for beginners.

Related threads to this one you want to read:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=3

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=3

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......3&11

I would also suggest Brad Burt's "Basics of Expert Coin Technique" video.

Luca

I enjoyed Bobo's Modern Coin magic very much, and still find myself reading it from time-to-time. I also though Bill Tarr's "Now You See it, Now You Don't" book on Sleight of hand. Although it cover more than coins, I think it is very good reading. Mark Wilson's book on Magic is a very good book for beginners too. It has a section on coins, and has much more to offer as well.

John Eddington

Good point Dan,

I jumped in at the deep end myself with sankey material (from a book!) so I know how hard it can be.

I have tried to put the titles in order of learning, J.B.Bobos first in the books and Ammar's CITCM in the videos , but it is a difficult task.

but you must agree that most of the techniques are taught in advance of the routines in the books.

for example,

COIN MAGIC has lots of basic techniques,
ie Retention Pass (2 versions), Palm change, fingertip rest, shuttle pass, edge grip, classic palm (one of a group etc), deep back clip, spider vanish, spellbound (6 simple methods + others), drop switch etc etc etc.

I also found the Easy to master early tapes quite easy to follow, all you had to do was copy and learn.


as I can only comment on items that I have viewed, I am open to all suggestions and have added Roths Videos to the list.

PS. the reason behind this list can be seen Here

pps. I have read your essay and think that others should to!. LINK to Essay by Dan

I took a look at the esaay by Dan and I wonder why nothing from Rubinstein is mentioned?

Only Dan could answer that.

Maybe at the time of compiling his essay Dr.Rubinstein's material wasn't readily available.

But I neglected Dr.Rubinstein because although I think that he has some excellent stuff, his routines are not specifically designed for solely for beginners. That being said, his explanation of sleights could significantly help the learning process for one who is struggling with a book.

Regarding Rubinstein's stuff:

The Knockout Coin magic DVDs are his routines. You need to know the basics before you do any of them. They are not teaching videos for beginners.

His Encyclopedia is great to have a reference for sleights, but I would not recommend an Encyclopedia for the absolute beginner. It is a great reference tool for magicians, but could be a bit too dry for a beginner, sleight after sleight after sleight, variation of a sleight after variation of a sleight, and no routines.

The Roth, Stone, and Ammar tapes are focused on teaching fundamental sleights and routines to use them. I think that is the better mix for a beginner.

I had just ordered Modern Coin Magic by Bobo as referenced by a good friend and should be getting it very shortly. So as just starting out my coin venture, I'll make sure my beginner status from this book will be known.

That's a purchase you will not regret. It has taught me moves at my own pace. As I learn new magic, it seems I can go back to that book and find something similar to help me out, that I never knew was in there.
Best of luck with your learning,

John Eddington

I HIGHLY HIGH suggest, Jeff McBride's World class Manipulation Series. Volume 1 has MANY MANY MANY coin sleights that are mandatory for beginners, while volumes 2 and 3 have more advanced techniques such as rollouts, passes, jumbo coins, and other flourishes, etc.

If you want to see some of the things I can do, thanks to that those videos go to http://www.geocities.com/coinfreakfos

If I was starting all over again, knowing what I know now.....
1. Ammar's World of Magic VHS
2. Hampton's Amazing Tricks with Money VHS
3. Ammar's Introduction to Coin Magic VHS
4. Bobo's for a full read.
5. the Ammar and Stone vids in order

I suggest this order so the beginner can pick up some very easy material and have some effects to work with right from the start. The more difficult effects should be
held off for a while so that enough practice time can be done to show them properly without exposing the methods of working professionals.

Just an opinion.

Consider the 5th volume of the Greater Magic Video Library Teach-In Series from Stevens Magic Emporium. The tape is called "Coin Classics Volume 1" and features the likes of Bobo himself showing multiple ways to vanish a coin. The tape features 13 performers and 14 different effects shown in performance and subsequently clearly explained.

Mike Ammar (back when he *had* hair!), Eugene Burger, Daryl, Jay Marshall, David Regal, Jay Sankey, and a whole host of others.

A real find for the beginner and intermediate coin worker alike!

If you're looking for non-card material, I would also include Lewis Ganson's 2 book set of close-up material.

DonB.

As a newcomer to coin magic, I think the list of starting materials should be short. I am using:
Bobo's book "Modern Coin Magic,
Ammar's Video "Complete Introduction to Coin Magic"
and I must say how helpful the http://www.coinvanish.com site has been so far.

I would like to recommend for the beginners of magic who would like to know the history of magic, effects, and magicians to seek out a copy of T.A. Waters "Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians."

DA

Nothing like starting at the beginning.

Discoverie of Witchcraft by R Scott (1560)
The Art of Magic by T. Nelson Downs (1909)

Sorry, that was a bit before video. On the other hand these guys did want to communicate so they wrote clearly and plainly. Both are in Dover paperback.

I'm at exactly the same position as you!

And I feel it's been working great so far. Ammar's DVD was a good hook that gets you interested and Bobo's helps with the fine details as well as the foundations at coinvanish.com

Since this is a sticky topic that stays at the top of this forum I wanted to post some advice here for new coin magicians.

Along with people posting about new videos and books I often see people make threads asking about topics such as Matrix routines, or the Raven, or _Insert your favorite coin topic here_.

One thing that I recommend for anyone looking for a particular topic. The Search link at the top of this forum allows you to put in a word or words if you are looking for a specific topic. This can also be done in the archived section as well.

In many cases threads that have come before will be able to answer your questions. If not you can add to the preexisting thread or start a new one to add upon what has come before.

I find the search tool one of the most helpful features of this website. I use it all the time when I am looking for a specific topic.

Dan

For a beginner. I would suggest nothing other than JB Bobos Modern Coin Magic.
That book has a wealth of material and takes a great deal of time to LEARN the sleights and routines.
Getting too many books only clutters the learning path for the beginner. Focus on the best book for beginners. I believe that is the book.