How to Make a Coin Disappear in a Hand

In this illusion, you cover a coin with a rigged handkerchief. Ask a volunteer from the audience to hold the coin through the hanky, and then grab the handkerchief from the audience member's hand. When you have pull away the cloth, the coin is no longer there.

Things You'll Need

• Two handkerchiefs
• One quarter
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread the same color as the handkerchief

Instructions

1. Prepare this trick by creating a trick handkerchief. Cut a corner off of one of the handkerchiefs. The piece should be triangular and larger than your coin. Place the corner piece over one of the corners of the other handkerchief and sew the pieces together, fully encasing the coin inside.

2. Ask to borrow a quarter from an audience member once you are ready to perform the trick.

3. Hold the volunteer's coin in your right hand and pick up the trick handkerchief by the sewn corner so that your audience cannot see that it is rigged.

4. Cover your right hand with the trick handkerchief, positioning the coin sewn inside against the borrowed coin sitting in the palm of your hand.

5. Use your left hand to grab onto the coin sewn into the handkerchief. Lift the coin and handkerchief slightly above your outstretched hand.

6. Finger palm the volunteer's coin and ask him to hold onto the coin through the handkerchief. In reality, he will be holding onto the coin sewn into the hanky. While holding the volunteer's coin, drop your right hand to your side. Casually place your hands in your pockets and leave the coin there.

7. Grab one of the corners of the handkerchief and quickly jerk it out of the volunteer's hand. When nothing drops to the floor, it will appear as though the coin has disappeared. Remove the volunteer's coin from your pocket and show it to the audience.

Tips & Warnings

• You might have the volunteer read the year engraved on the coin, and then mark it with a magic marker to identify at the trick's conclusion.