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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts 
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I’m not sure why, but the C/S coin has always intrigued me. (Hey, if it was good enough for Reginald Scot . . . . )
Anyway, I came across some information in Bobo which said the best way to create such a coin was to use the thinnest possible sliver of an EP. This way, supposedly the join would not be quite as noticeable. I have a Sterling C/S coin which was made this way, and although it looks pretty good from the Kennedy side, that’s certainly not the case with the EP view. I also have C/S coins from Johnson and Kueppers that were made as half-and-halfs. Despite Bobo's criticism, I’m not sure this alternate arrangement is really any worse than the Sterling version -- at least there’s an equal chance of a problem, so to speak. I’ve also seen the Copeland C/S version, which is a very creative and interesting solution, but that price point is waaaay over my head. I’ve also noticed that when a C/S coin is held in the hand, the slight natural concave curve of the palm or fingers can help to conceal the edge of the coin; ditto on a closeup mat, if the coin sinks slightly into the mat. Keeping the coin in motion probably helps, too. What are your ideas and strategies for keeping the heat off a C/S coin while it’s in play? SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
Mb217 Inner circle 9616 Posts
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One of the very best coins ever devised. So simple yet so magical and deceptive. Easier to just buy one already made for you, and honestly any good gaffer will make a pretty good one, but TWOCAN here on the Cafe specializes in them and offers some exceptional work.
I have the same one I’ve had for decades now from Johnson’s, and it is still the very best one I ever had…Man, they were just great coin makers and always with better than reasonable prices. Miss them folks. And honestly, I don’t think it makes too much difference as to the coins being half & half or not, as it’s just not the way specs see the use of them. All the intricate details are too small to give much thought to behind whatever it is you’re doing with the coin. I’ve done a lot with the old C/S coin over the years and still enjoy it just as much from the very first one I remember getting from Tannen’s growing up in NYC. Even the cheap ones will do what you need them to do without fail. From my first C/S Surprise in my old Short Pockets download to my more recent Copper/Silver INC. effect, the coin still works some powerful magic…:)
*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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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Thanks for the demo, it surely looks good! And believe me, I wasn't planning on making my own, just commenting on the different ways it's been done in the past.
I also have a nice Chinatown Half that I got from Tannen's a long time ago. Same basic idea, but a dynamite effect with the addition of the "square" hole in the center. However, I felt its usefulness was lessened somewhat because of the white insert. I guess I could even have stuffed something different into the Tannen's coin, but then I'd be worried about it falling out, and if I glued it in, then I'd be stuck with that insert and the same problem. Maybe a dab of Magician's Wax might have solved that problem, but I never gave it a try. A few years later I saw another Chinatown Half that was gaffed like a Scotch & Soda coin. You could open it and insert whatever you wanted -- a matching skin color, a piece of denim or other cloth, red or black felt to match your table pad -- and then change it again whenever you wanted to. I think it may have been made by Sterling. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't buy it! I believe N2G now sells something similar, and maybe it's called N9. But it's Morgan Dollar size and that's a little too big for me -- handwise and also pricewise! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27353 Posts
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A “China Change”? Fun item. Also, for a little while Chinatowns were made like that using the red/ black Eddie Gibson design coins. Sterling also sold one where there were two background options available at any time.
You might like the Item in The Vernon Book of Magic using a … similar idea.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Nev Blenk Regular user Northumberland UK 143 Posts
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The C/S coin is the basis of most of my routines. It solves a ton of problems. I have several made by various people over the years and have never really been concerned about the edge especially as I work on a close up mat.
David Roth did a fun and simple Chinatown Half routine using a white hankerchief. He was using a Johnson Products version with the white insert.
Coin & Box - book available directly from me.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA8lRnEJbbzlw6Ai1R4M_Q Instagram @nevblenk |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Nev -- I hate to say it, but "Why didn't I think of that?" Probably because I'm not David Roth!
I might just be going out today to buy a few white hankies . . . . SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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Nev Blenk Regular user Northumberland UK 143 Posts
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Coin & Box - book available directly from me.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLA8lRnEJbbzlw6Ai1R4M_Q Instagram @nevblenk |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Thanks Nev! Cute routine -- although I'm personally not a big fan of these "vision/memory" test things, which sometimes only serve to embarrass the spec or make him/her look stupid. They're a not-so-distant relative of "challenge" routines, which I also dislike for the same reason. Fortunately, David didn't push it too hard. I have Mark Mason's "Orient Express," which is a nice CSB-type set made up with Chinese coins. But I grind my teeth when I watch his "vision/memory" test demo, for all of the above reasons. Magic is supposed to mystify and entertain people, not humiliate them.
OK, end of rant! Anyway, now that I think about it, I believe there's also a similar hanky routine in Bobo. I'll take a look and see. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Well, I saw plenty of hanky/coin effects in Bobo. But unless I missed it, they all used either ungimmicked coins or a C/S coin, no Chinatown Halfs. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2389 Posts
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Something to keep in mind...
Modern Coin Magic was first published in 1952 when US halves and quarters were still 90% silver. The New Modern Coin Magic was published in 1966 when halves were still 40% silver. With clad coins (quarters 1965+ and halves 1971+) they've got a copper middle when seen on edge so a 50/50 split with an English Penny may look more normal than with a real silver coin - at least from the half dollar side. |
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inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2389 Posts
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Easy fix for those plot lines is to relay it as if it happened to you, vs it being between you and your spectator.
Quote:
On Jul 27, 2024, sethb wrote: |
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inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2389 Posts
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Re: Scotch and Soda type Chinatown coins.
Todd Lassen made some beautiful ones. Made customization simple.  |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Quote:
On Jul 27, 2024, inigmntoya wrote: With clad coins (quarters 1965+ and halves 1971+) they've got a copper middle when seen on edge so a 50/50 split with an English Penny may look more normal than with a real silver coin - at least from the half dollar side. Once again, a very good point. Perhaps I'm just overthinking this. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Quote:
On Jul 27, 2024, inigmntoya wrote: Easy fix for those [challenge-type] plot lines is to relay it as if it happened to you, vs it being between you and your spectator. Yes, I agree that would be a good fix and a much better arrangement. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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tonsofquestions Inner circle 1895 Posts
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Quote:
On Jul 26, 2024, sethb wrote: Why would you still be kicking yourself. I'm sure it's possible to find again (even though Sterling isn't considered great quality), and I believe that's the way some of the Chinatown coins are still made. If you absolutely _must_ have a C/S coin that isn't a 50/50 split, I know Kreis used to make some that were 1:3 (1/4 vs 3/4) http://kreis-magic.com/product/coin/ The site says "not on sale", but you could always try emailing them. But as others have said, it really isn't an important detail 99% of the time. |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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Yep, I think I've seen the light here, and the percentage of the split really doesn't matter. Besides, I was mostly just curious about Bobo's comment. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2832 Posts
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I'm also wondering if Bobo's comment about preferring a very thin EP was mostly a reflection of the manufacturing processes at the time. Maybe it was just easier to accomplish that way, in a time before CNC and other fancier metalworking devices were available. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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Julie Inner circle 3932 Posts
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Quote:
On Jul 31, 2024, sethb wrote: Steve Dusheck's Copper/Silver Transposition is well worth pursuing. Easy and very visual. The gimmick is thin. |
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warren Inner circle uk 4304 Posts
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Johnsons magic used to make really nice C/S coins, what makes it so good is that the silver side is really thin so it even looks good from the side.
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Nothing up my sleeve... » » C/S coin thoughts (8 Likes) | |
Posted: Jul 26, 2024 12:32 pm 
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