Are the old real silver coin sets going away as these new replica sets become available, there are so many different types and even awesome Chinese coin shell sets . I do favor my silver but did notice how quality looking replicas are becoming the replacement for many magicians .

I think it really depends on who it is and what the goal is.
The replicas are nice for people starting out, but I know plenty of folks who swear by silver and would never use anything else.
The coins themselves are nicely made, but some of the replicas are _really_ poor quality, at least the images compared to the originals. There was a whole thread on it here https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......orum=202 and I'm inclined to agree that I despise those Morgans.
That said, there are others that are better looking (Bluether, TCC) which are a step up in price and quality but still not as much as silver.

But again, there will always be folks that only want the best - those aren't going to go away any time soon.

The Split Focus replica Morgan coins are really excellent.

I have a few genuine Morgan dollars, and if the patina matched more closely, I have no doubt I could use them all in a routine and specs would have no idea they are different.

I remember discussing this many years ago, that replicas were a good choice, especially as silver coins were expensive. I didn’t think it made much difference, except that magicians might prefer silver coins. They do make a different sound and may feel a bit different, but in the end I think what’s most important is how they come across to specs, and I don’t think it makes much of any real difference to them.

Also, replicas put the right size coins in more people’s hands more immediately. I actually like them a lot and never came across anyone that they didn’t play well for. I guess because the manipulations are the same, and they don’t feel that much different, and the better quality ones look pretty darn good, especially the ones made to appear worn and feel soft.

I used to use a set of them all the time, so I didn’t worry about drops, or even sometimes losing one. To be clear, I’ve had many nice sets of silver coins, halves and dollar coin sets and love them. But the replicas are a great alternative as to price, availability, and good enough overall usage. But at the end of the day, the good coin guy using silver coins is probably no better than the good coin guy using replicas, or the bad coin guy using silver is probably no better using replicas, or something like that.

I echo the thoughts above. I truly appreciate my silver (half dollar) coins. I like silver as a material in jewelry and other things, and I collect coins. They make sense for me as a person.

I recently picked up some replica morgan dollars, in two styles. One style does look better than the other. They're just right for me for learning to work with Morgan sized coins without a big financial burden. The magic club won't care, although they would be impressed with the real deal. Friends and family don't know the difference, and I'm comfortable introducing them as "silver dollars" and leaving it at that. Most people won't have seen them before, so I'm not so worried about it.

I must admit I don’t see the point of replicas. I love my silver Morgan’s but I’d rather use genuine Ikes which are readily available and cheap rather than a replica Morgan.

Mark

For me, I don’t personally find general American coinage very beautiful. And the currency isn’t particularly exotic or foreign where I live. So at least silver dollars have some interesting factors (age, material) which I find interesting and am more likely to have as a person (those who know me know I collect coins). I realize replicas aren’t really old or silver, and those into coins would recognize they aren’t genuine. However I handed a fake one to a few people and they thought “oh wow beautiful”. Good enough reason for me until I decide if I actually want to use Morgan dollars - or if I want to save up and have some gaffs made from Canadian silver dollars, British double florins, etc.

Allow me to relate an anecdote about Morgan silver dollars. I was working strolling close-up at an outdoor festival. My senses left me, and I absent-mindedly left a glass with the four silver dollars and shell on a picnic table where I performed. Those were expensive props made by Todd Lassen. (I don't recall how much I paid for them. Maybe around $300 years ago.) Long after I had left the table, a little boy approached me with the glass and the coins. “You left these at our table. You want them back?” I replied, “I sure do!” I thanked the kiddo profusely for being honest and gave him a twenty-dollar bill. I remember that honest little boy vividly. I think that was over forty years ago.

I retired from full-time performing ten years ago. But if I were performing these days, I might consider a replica set. After the experience described above, I'm not sure I would want to truck around a $500 set.

Best,
Gerald

I was a coin collector as a kid and now use and collect many coin sets.
I love the sound, feel, and weight of real silver coins, but (1) they're no longer everyday items that you can borrow and do miracles with. Even loose change, quarters etc are less common for people to be carrying. So on that front, replicas, fake Chinese coins etc are not much different as they're not anything most people would be immediately familiar with.
(2) with the rising cost of silver, using real silver coins and gimmicks made from them will simply price many people out of buying and using them.

I think there will still be a market - especially for well made sets - and as you know PT/TWOCAN, I've got some from you that are very well made.

From what I've seen, Ron Davies in the UK is still selling as much as he can make, people as still camping on Jamie Schoolcraft's "drop" events, so I don't think demand is slacking off too much. Lassen sets still demand a premium as well but maybe more for collectors?

I collect for sure but I also use them, and some are alway on me.

Back to replicas... Other than cost, I'm not sure I see the point. Might as well use something real that's more familiar / accessible. I think Joe Porper was on to something with his poker chip sets. N2G has some interesting options there, and if course there's Sucker Punch, but I think items made from real chips would be better. Something along the lines of Bob Kohler's Vegas Coins made from real Hard Rock Cafe chips/tokens.

But I'm still a sucker for a nice silver set.

Murphy's Magic is releasing a new version of Sucker Punch this year. Lloyed Barnes and Craig Petty involved in the project. At least a flipper chip included in this new set but also much more. I hope they will use some real clay casino chips this time.

I agree with inigmntoya, I would like to see more usage of the real Casino tokens. Bob Kohler's set is a beautiful set. The shell is amazing.

Gerald, right on. It is too easy to accidentally drop or lose a silver coin or silver set. I love the good fakes. Recently someone swore my fake coins were silver. I told them they weren't but they still insisted. Only a coin shop owner would know the difference, if they only handled them for a short time. I don't like carrying around 500 in my pocket in coins. Also, silver dents very easily--I really dislike that.
I use my coins for magic. I am not a collector. I love to carry them in my coat pockets and not have to worry if I lose a fake every couple of years.

Another complaint I've heard is the finish can wear off if used a lot. Now silver prices are crazy...

Yeah... The cheap ones are plated brass.
Some of the better ones - like Bluether (NOT Blu-ther) are made from cupro-nickel which is silver colored all the way through.

Finally. I found someone who agrees with me. Thanks, Countrymaven!