When it comes to choosing the best coins for coin magic, there are several different opinions out there. Ultimately, you’ll have to weigh the different facts and come to a conclusion that will work well for your own routine. Below, we will look at the kinds of things that go into making that decision.

Small or Large Coins?

The size of the coins you decide to use for your own sleight of hand can be narrowed down into two clear choices: large or small. There are two schools of thought on which of these two options is better overall.

Some people believe that the best coins for coin magic are dollar sized. Their reasons for thinking this is that a dollar coin is large. This gives it a more visible surface area so that your audience can see what’s happening, and that’s especially important if you’re in a large room, have low lighting, or there are a lot of people. It’s also more impressive to make something big disappear as opposed to smaller items.

On the flip side, some people think that using large coins is outdated since so few people use them these days. They contend that using smaller coins that are in circulation appear less suspicious, so your audience will be more likely to enjoy the show and follow along. They also believe that if you use large coins that are less common, people will subconsciously think there’s something sneaky about the trick.

What Are Other Magicians Using?

The standard coin that’s used in magic tricks today is the US half dollar. In some ways, these are the best coins for coin magic. For one thing, half dollars are bright and shiny, and this can give it a strong ‘visual’ when used in the right kind of lighting setup. They also have ridged sides, so it’s a lot easier to grip them when you’re pulling off a coin flourish. Overall, the size is ideal; not too large, not too small. The half dollar is a good choice for magic routines because it’s easily visible, readily accepted and fits comfortably in one hand.

Another coin that still remains popular with many experienced magicians is the dollar coin. The dollar coin is large and makes for an impressive vanishing act, but it can be fairly easy to manipulate once you’ve become accustomed to the size. The best way to get used to the feel is by practicing over and over. Then you can try out your skills in front of a few close friends or family members, and once you’ve got that down, you can take on a larger audience.

What About Unusual Coins?

It can be a lot of fun and bring an impressive twist when you use coins that are outside of the normal standard in the magic field. One of the best coin magic tips we can give you is to go out on a limb and practice with a variety of different types such as:
• Tokens
• Foreign coins
• Rare coins

Although some people may be suspicious when you use something out of the ordinary, you can make it more fun and appealing by telling a story about the coins. Talk about where the coin came from and how you happened to end up with it.

Does It Matter What Size Your Hands Are?

This is a personal question, so the answer varies depending on what factors come into play. Here’s the overall general guideline that most magic practitioners follow:

• For small hands, use coins that are about the size of a quarter.
• For medium hands, move up to something in the range of a half dollar.
• For larger hands, choose silver dollars or coins of a similar size.

Some people get overly concerned about having hands that are small, but there’s no need to worry. Although it’s true that small hands may cover less of an object, you can still do sleight of hand and palming just as well as someone with larger hands. You just need to make the most of environmental factors such as lighting, audience size and distance between you and those you’re performing for.

Just keep practicing until you’ve got it down pat. And if you do have small hands, but would like to work more smoothly with larger coins, make the progression one step at a time. Start working with a small coin, and try your moves until you can do the routine easily. Then move up a size and repeat your practice sessions, and so on. By the time you’ve gotten to the larger coins, you won’t be hindered by having smaller hands.

Finding the best coins for coin magic is easy when you take the time to figure out what works best for you.