Ted’s Magnetic Scotch and Soda Learning Page

www.tedssterlingmagic.com/product/scotch-and-soda-mexican-centavo

www.tedssterlingmagic.com/product/english-penny-scotch-and-soda

Setup
You are supplied with a gimmicked Half Dollar and a centavo. You will need a regular quarter. Hold the gimmicked Half Dollar with the head side up by the edges in one hand. Bang your fingertips into the palm of your other hand.  This will cause an insert to separate from the Half Dollar. You will now have two pieces, a shell Half Dollar and a special insert with a Half Dollar on one side and a centavo on the other side. Place the regular centavo in your pocket, and a quarter under the gimmicked Half Dollar shell so it fits into the recess of the coin. Hold the Half Dollar with the quarter underneath it on the fingertips of your left hand. Now, take the insert with one half centavo and the other half a Half Dollar, and place the centavo side up on the fingertips of your right hand. To the audience it will look like you are holding a Half Dollar in your left hand and a centavo in your right hand.

Considerations

1. Be sure to squeeze the gimmicked shell/insert before handing it to a spectator for examination. This will ensure a tight fit and prevent them from discovering the secret.
2. If your coins fit too tightly do not be concerned. It may take several separations of your gimmicked coin to get it to break in.
3. If your coins fit too loose and the insert falls out, it is easy to tighten them. Support the edges of the half dollar shell upside down.  Apply pressure to the center of the shell with your thumb.  This will bend the shell slightly concave, and tighten the coins slightly.  Do this a little at a time until you are satisfied with the fit.
4. Most of the effects are accomplished by secretly nesting the half dollar shell and insert together, causing the centavo to apparently vanish. The duplicate centavo can then be revealed in a variety of ways to create many different effects.

Performance
Show the two coins to your spectator, and place the Half Dollar with the quarter underneath it on top of the centavo. Note: Be careful not to flash the quarter underneath. Ask your spectator which coin appears larger, the Half Dollar or the centavo? The spectator will say that the Half Dollar is slightly larger. Now, carefully separate the two coins holding one in each hand. Tell your spectator they were correct, the Half Dollar is larger. Next, take the centavo side that is showing and slide it under the Half Dollar and above the Quarter, sandwiching the centavo to fit inside the shell of the Half Dollar. Gently squeeze the coins. You are holding the Half Dollar and the quarter together as one.

Tell your spectator to hold out his or her hand. Place both coins, with the Quarter hidden from view, into their hand. Have them make a fist and place both hands behind their back. Show your hands empty. Tell your spectator to separate the two coins behind their back, placing the Half Dollar in one hand and the centavo in the other hand (actually it is the quarter, but they will think it’s the centavo). Have them bring both fists forward. Tell the spectator you bet that you can remove one of the coins without touching their hands. Of course they can feel both coins, and will say, “No way!” Have them open their hands and see the shock on their face when they notice the Half Dollar in one hand and a Quarter in the other hand. The centavo is GONE! Reach into your pocket and remove the real centavo and say, “I won! I removed the centavo from your hands without touching them!”