I was excited to see the clever C/S sleights on Volume Two of Michael Rubenstein's "Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights" DVD, because I thought they might be very useful in apparently casually showing both sides of a C/S coin.

But when I began working with the moves myself, I had a question. Since this C/S sleight is basically a type of "paddle move" that only shows the same side of the coin, that seems to be a weakness in the move. For example, when apparently showing both sides of a gaffed Kennedy half, the spec would see the heads side both times, and wouldn't see the tail side at all.

Now perhaps it wouldn't be quite as evident when the move is done with the English Penny side, since U.S. specs aren't that familiar with this coin and probably wouldn't know one side from the other anyway. Since a copper EP is darker, it's harder to see any details, and that also might help to obscure the problem. Finally, as long as the move with a Kennedy half is only done once and very casually (with no patter about "and here's the other side"), you might get away with it.

I'm wondering if other magis have used this sleight and have the same concerns. If so, what have you done about it, or what else can you suggest to solve this problem? Thanks in advance for your help! SETH

Hi Seth, you are absolutely correct - the move is better with a darker coin like an ep or one that people don't know, or a poker chip which is the same on both sides (so you can hide, for example, a sticker). That being said, a quick flash of "both" sides passes casual muster, especially in a copper silver routine. There are many uses for those kinds of moves, and frankly, in the many years I have used this type of move, no one has ever caught that you are showing the same side. Take a look at the routines in Rubinstein Coin Magic to see some of the applications.

Thanks very much Michael, for your thoughts and advice!

I have a feeling that, properly used, these C/S "paddle" moves would probably even fool some magis who might otherwise suspect a C/S coin in play. But I'm happy just fooling laymen! SETH

Incidentally, these Rubenstein “paddle moves” with a C/S also reminded me of another great C/S paddle move that uses two C/S coins.

In his 1971 booklet “The Coins of Ishtar,” Jules DeBarros has a routine that involves the tabled transposition of three Kennedy halves and three English Pennies. It uses two C/S coins and a paddle-type turnover move he adapted from a similar card sleight.

I thought the DeBarros move was almost airtight, and it also eliminates the issue I raised in my first post in this thread. However, there is a very slight visual discrepancy that 95% of the specs probably wouldn’t notice. But I think even this problem can be resolved by a slight sliding movement of the two coins; like the traditional paddle move, the very small extra movement is well covered by the larger movement of the turnover itself. SETH

Curtis Kam's item Inverted Spellbound did.

"might be very useful in apparently casually showing both sides of a C/S coin."

I have never felt a need or calling to show both sides of the coin. If I were handing it to a store clerk I would not, so why with a casual observer?
To do anything unusual might invite suspicion. Treat the coin as natural and they will also.

Very good point, maybe we might be trying too hard.

Or as Al Baker used to say, "Don't run when nobody is chasing you." SETH

There’ya go!