I'm really starting at the beginning of coin magic. What are some of the coins that I will need to get? Where can I get some of the "odd" coins if I'm in the USA? What are some good gimmicked coins to start with?

Half dollar and dollar coins are what's most typically used in coin magic. So Kennedy halves, and Morgan dollars or Ike Dollars are easy enough to come by. Also, foreign coins like Copper English Pennie and Chinese coins (both the size of Kennedy halves), are typical coins used to show changes and transpositions. Easy enough to get any of these coins off the internet, ebay, etc., or even within marketed coin tricks and sets.

As to gaffed or gimmicked coins, A C/S coin is fun, a sh*ll can be quite helpful, and you can do all sorts of things with a TUC.

I still say take the time to learn SOH, and you'll come to do infinitely more as to coins.

If you're just starting, listen to whatever "Mb217" Boykin says, haha. He seems to answer every question and request around here! I'm sure you're already aware of this, but it's a good idea work on the sleights and read routines before buying too many gimmicks and such. With coin magic, there's always a several ways to achieve an effect, some with gimmicks and some without. Learning the ungimmicked methods helps in understanding the trade-offs necessary when using a sh*ll, fl***er, etc.

-Andrew

The most popular are the Morgan or Peace dollar, the Walking Liberty and Barber half dollar,
the English penny, and the East African Dime(size of the half dollar and english penny).

As for gaffs, a x[, a flipper, and a c/s would be all that is be needed to add to your chosen coin set.

There a plethora of gaffs, folders, split, half[, tuc, cig/pen through coin, stacks, balancing, mags, and allot more.

What do you want to do?
Your budget?
Then take it from there.

Thanks you guys for the tips. I'm going at least get some half dollars to start working with hopefully this weekend to at least start working on some SOH moves. Then I'll look for some of the foreign coins online possibly this weekend.

Greg, if you are not from the US, or want to use something other than halves or Morgan dollars, check out this site http://www.air-tites.com/coin_size_chart.htm It lists coins by their size: Kennedy halves are around 30mm, dollars are about 38mm in diameter.

A bit of advice when shopping for coins online: first off, don't go crazy! I did that and now have a nice collection of shiny coins I never use, as they are too thick, have no milling, all sorts of reasons. Secondly, you may want to buy a few fake Morgans or go with Eisenhower dollars to save yourself a small fortune, particularly when first starting out. If you need a link to the copies, pm me please.

Have fun!

Go to a coin dealer and get five old--what the dealer will call "junk" silver but coin workers call "soft Silver"--half dollars. Then learn basic coin handling. Doing so before you start working with a lot of gaffs will help in the long run.

I would say to get some gaff stuff, Two Copper One Silver or whatever, so you can have something to perform and get used to that while working on more sleight of hand stuff.