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CarpetShark Special user 576 Posts 
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Have you ever noticed that the vast majority of coin magicians use coins which appear rounded, smooth, aged ? The reasons for this are many: the coins actually are old, they are much quieter than mint ones, they reduce flashing as the metal is not as shiny, that sort of thing. When I got started working with Morgans, I found them too thick, the edges in particular, and very noisy! Now, for some routines this is not an issue, but trying to CP four dollars is much harder (at least for me) than four halves or well worn, thinner dollars. Also I've noticed that most of the coins used on DVDs and videos have that nice rounded edge look to them, more like ( than [.
Although this makes edge work that much more challenging, I've found that by carefully remilling the grooves (for lack of the correct terminology!) before I start sanding them down, makes edge work that much less of a challenge. Do most coin handler's do this ? Are there routines that demand the use of 'new' thick and shiny coins ? Is there any reason I should not be doing this ? By the way, I am using copies of Morgans (wouldn't want to destroy a valuable coin!!), as the cost of a mistake is negligible. I do prefer the sound of non-mutilated coins clinking together, so for moves which utilize an audio deception (e.g. click pass) I get more bang from my bucks with virgin coins. I await your comments. Thanks for reading. |
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Tree Loyal user Wiggle Wiggle 295 Posts
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Quote:
On May 8, 2014, CarpetShark wrote: Not me, and I don't think many coin workers alter their coins. They buy them already soft. The condition of the coins you are referring to are known as soft coins worn from age and use. Since I buy used culled Morgans all the time for our Jewelry shop to melt down for the silver content, over the last 4yrs I've been able to choose 5 of what I think are perfect soft Morgans for coin work. Myself, I would never remill the edges or alter them through sanding, although I tried the sanding technique once and after a few weeks of practicing with them, I tossed them into my kiln, and used them to make silver wire. I like the normal soft condition of naturally aged coins. I think it's just practice that allows one to be able to grip, palm, and generally be able to use whatever coins they choose to work with, and not by altering the coins. There are a few threads here about people reconditioning their coins through remilling etc, but imo it's a waste of time. Really it's personal choice as to how one wants to learn to work with coins in the long run. |
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David Neighbors V.I.P. aurora co. 4902 Posts
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Yea Most of the Time I just then All ready Soft! It's not that hard when You use Babar's
 And I have not used Milled Edges in over 30 years! |
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Craig Ousterling Special user Orlando, FL 587 Posts
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I didn't use to. I do now. I like the way they look. '64s are just too "new" now that I've been playing with older looking one's. Also, believe it or not... they are stickier this way. I also really like the fact the milled edges are nice and sharp.
Click here to view attached image. |
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Calvin Tong Special user 717 Posts
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Nice kennedys.
:o) I use uncirculated for a while then switch back to soft then back again. depends on the routine.
Calvin Lou Tong
Corporate Magician House Magician@Campagne One Main President IBM Ring 216 Silicon Valley |
inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2477 Posts
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Quote:
On May 8, 2014, Craig Ousterling wrote: Interesting looking,and actually a nice aesthetic, but I've never seen any Kennedy's like that, and I doubt any spectators have. The silver ones didn't stay in general circulation long enough to get aged naturally, and the clad ones never get dark like that. I don't see the point of making them look like that if the point of using real coins is to show you're using real coins? If they've been doctored in appearance I would be wondering what else has been doctored. |
Mb217 Inner circle 9717 Posts
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I gotta tell'ya, I don't think... No, "I know" that specs don't care one iota about this stuff. They could care less what coins you use, old, new, worn, etc. That stuff looks good (or may serve a secret purpose, like soft coins) to us magis, but I've yet to hear a spec rail on about the coins used in a Coins Across, 3 Fly, Gadabout Coins, Coins Thru Table, One Coin Routine, Tenkai Pennies or whatever. Heck, no one uses actual pennies for Tenkai Pennies, much more so they use half dollars or maybe quarters, and people don't even notice that misuse of denomination. Even if they knew the name of the effect, they wouldn't care, or something like that.
In most cases, if the magi doesn't make a point about the coins he uses, no questions are asked about them. People are much more interested in the magic you do with the coins, than what they look like or how old they are, or whatever. I'm just sayin'.
That said, that's a nice looking set of coins, Craig. I really don't think anyone would think much of anything about them, and would have no where near the deep dive inig mentions here. You gotta be a magi for your bells to ring like that, if at all. At best, specs might think the coins look sorta old, if that means anything and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't mean much.
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb 
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Dentian Loyal user 278 Posts
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I really doubt audiences know what regular kennedies even look like in the first place. At least not for those I've performed to, most of them actually find it odd that they 'look so new' even though they are so old...
Here are some pictures of Morgans (OXF and C/S coins) I got from Roy Kueppers awhile back, they are nice and soft, really great coins.   |
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inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2477 Posts
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Quote:
On May 9, 2014, Mb217 wrote: Or a coin collector (another hobby of mine), but general point taken.
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Craig Ousterling Special user Orlando, FL 587 Posts
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Aging coins like this accomplished a lot for me as far as conversation with a spectator goes.
First I can chat about how money WAS made out of silver... and the last time they were close to 100% was 1964... now I have a reason for all the coins to have the same date but don't need to directly state that.
Second I can chat about the clad garbage metal our oh so wonderful govt is making coins out of currently. And add that silver tarnishes like silverware... blah blah blah... you get the idea. It's a conversation starter if I need it. It's a conversation prolonger if I need it. These ARE special coins... here take a REALLY CLOSE LOOK AT THEM.. cuz you're going to want to see them after THIS happens and wonder why you didn't ask to look at them before. Although none of these need to be said at all.... but I think old looking coins look nice with the old looking brass! Click here to view attached image. |
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Christopher Moro Special user 794 Posts
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Craig, you are doing some KILLER aging work on the coins and now, your boxes! Beautiful work!
(You're making me too embarrassed to post pictures of my coins) |
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Craig Ousterling Special user Orlando, FL 587 Posts
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Thanks Chris, you should post them up. Did you finish them? I saw the prelim' pics. I bet they look good.
@Dentian... whats nice about those is the shadowing of the outline. Really makes the image pop even though the coin is almost flat. |
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Dentian Loyal user 278 Posts
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Thanks Craig, I really like how they look similar to those that Homer Liwag used in CoinOne and CoinTwo. Where did you get your box and set of coins from? Did you darken the coins yourself? They look great!
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts
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Craig,
I can't even see any coins in the photo you posted.... Those beautiful coin boxes seem to block out everything else. 
Jim |
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Calvin Tong Special user 717 Posts
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Craig, we gotta talk. :o)
Calvin Lou Tong
Corporate Magician House Magician@Campagne One Main President IBM Ring 216 Silicon Valley |
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Mb217 Inner circle 9717 Posts
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Quote:
On May 9, 2014, Craig Ousterling wrote: Yep, like I said, if you point specs that way then they look that way, but if you don't, they won't. I guess if you want to draw attention to how nice you think they are within the context of a routine, well then that would be a good way to do it through such aimed conversation. But in general, as Craig also says, it's not at all necessary really. I agree.
That said, I would also have to agree here with Mac sorta, that the specs would find those beautiful boxes much more noticeable and interesting than those really nice silver coins. Nice job, Craig…Very beautiful work!
https://plus.google.com/102618863123713149123/posts Oh, and Dentian, I have some old Morgans just like that, that my grandpa gave me long ago, "over-softened" I would say. I really learned to handle coins better because of them. They don't have sharp edges but because of that, I don't really need good edges at all. You really learn to handle the coins unto themselves much better, which helps to heighten your overall touch and feel with them. When I look at all my coins like that sometimes, I feel like I have real treasure.
Nice coins!
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
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Craig Ousterling Special user Orlando, FL 587 Posts
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J-mac... those lil SOBs defected to the UK.
Cal... call or email me. Mb... you know exactly whats goin' on. You can even spin it with clean coins. Patter about how when you find a penny on the ground it is dark and dingy... my coins I like to clean and polished to make them look shiny and new... even though they are form 1921. It can go both ways... or ignored completely. My personal taste at this moment in time happens to be the tarnished 64' look thanks a gentleman by the name of David Diamond for raising the issue to me. Carpetshark... I know what you mean about the 'sound' a smoothed stack always sounded to me like it was soaked in water. |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts
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Nice, soft Barber half dollars for me. Great to work with - they are always just a little thinner that other halves and almost perfectly smooth - and they all look great IMO. Actually they look just like little Morgans but facing the opposite way!
Jim |
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David Neighbors V.I.P. aurora co. 4902 Posts
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Yea they are a little Thinner! a stack Of 5 Barbar's Is the same as a stack of 4 Walker's !
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Mb217 Inner circle 9717 Posts
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Quote:
On May 10, 2014, Craig Ousterling wrote: Yeah, I understand…I was just giving another view on it. Hope that's OK.
And again, you do great work.
And "Happy Mother's Day" to all your moms.
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Nothing up my sleeve... » » Do you modify your coins for use ? (2 Likes) | |
Posted: May 8, 2014 03:02 pm 
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