Was reading the thread on jumbo 50cent...

Just wondering, how many of you, besides Samuel, had tried both jumbo halfs and 50c before on live audiences? And how many of you found the 50c having a stronger effect on the audience and why?

I have been using half-dollars mostly and occasionally sing coins, but I don't find any obvious difference in their reactions (assuming the effect went well).

Just want to hear your views.

I've got both. And for those who has seen my jumbo 50 gents knows it looks like crap and nothing like the real coin. But it still gets way better reaction than the jumbo half. Don't know why. Must be because people are familar with the Singapore 50c.

Zi An

Its kind of a turnoff to me (someone who doesn't really do coins) when someone uses coins of foreign currency for his routine (in SG especially).

Suspicious, as to why one can't use common coins for the trick decreases the potential reactions he/she could've gotten from using local coins.
Just like how most people would react when you perform card tricks with those weird decks by Ellusionist.
"Is that a special magic deck or sumthin', Mr Magician?"
You let him inspect the deck, but he will still be suspicous and instead of getting a crazy reaction after the performance, you'll probably get.. "Where'd you get that deck from?"

The moment they see the half dollar, they'll proably be thinking.. "Fishy fishy.. something's not right.." and turn to heckling mode.
What we want is to surprise them when they least expect it, don't we?

Then again, this is just an opinion from someone who's not really into coins.
Just my 2cts worth =)

- Zul

I am not exactly sure which 'version' of jumbo 50cents are you guys using. Personally I have seen at least 2 to 3 different 'version' of it. Simply cause they are manufacture by different people. One of those version is really like, not anywhere close looking to a 50cents. However I have to say the one I own is really convincing. Very well made. The only down side of the one I own is that it bends easily, so have to take extra care of it.

Well, I have never had any heckling using american coins. Visibility counts alot when you do magic. If you tried doing a three fly using 50cents sg, its gonna be bad. I think its no problem using coins that are foreign because you can, (and they will ask) to examine it.


But like it had been said, to each is his/her own. So I'd go for visibility in my magic.

But you are darn right about the weird looking ellusionist decks, they dont 'add' any value to the magic, only suspicion that has no plus points

Actually, to a layperson, a coin is just a flat piece of metal that makes a noise when you clink them together. In their mind, if you can make a half dollar vanish from one hand and jump into another, it does not mean that you cannot do it with the singapore coins, or any other small object like a dice, or small balls.

In fact, doing coin magic with a singapore coin does not necessarily make your magic stronger. It's odd but it's true. I also don't understand why.

Either way, i think most people are used to magicians taking things out of their pockets that they have never seen before, or are not used to. Like bicycle cards even. Most people in Singapore have never seen a bicycle deck before, yet when you take it out and show them magic, they never question you.


Zi An