Audible Coins Through The Table: A Direct Variation by Bill Wisch
- Bill Wisch
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Original Publication Date: September 8, 1998
“Audible Coins Through the Table” is a direct variation I created of several Slydini versions of Coins Through The Table ("The Best of Slydini and More" by Karl Fulves).
Several variations of Slydini's famous Coins Through The Table routine utilized six silver dollars and are very well known due to being printed in various Slydini books through the years. I am of the opinion that, in magic, there is a distinct difference between a “new move” and a “variation” of an existing move or routine. A variation modifies or reworks an existing handling, whereas a genuinely new move or effect is a completely original creation, something that simply hasn't been done before. I am blessed in that I have been fortunate to create both in my career. New moves I have created include the “Palm Change”, the “Phan-Thumb Technique” and the “Wisch-Fold” (among many, many others). An example of one of my new effects would be the “One Ring Routine” that Frank Garcia said was “poetry in motion” and according to Karl Fulves was the only linking ring routine ever devised that used only one linking ring.
You can watch Bill's Variation in the Youtube Video above (at the 1minute and 24 second mark, it is cued).
I am proud to say that Slydini greatly enjoyed my variations of his Coins Through the Table (I have several). When I performed them during lessons for him back in the early seventies, he was totally mystified by them. It was a thrill to come up with handlings that he not only enjoyed but considered performable as part of his routine.
I have lectured and performed this variation at many lectures over the years and was honored to have it, as well as another variation, included in my issue of Genii in September, 1984.
Effect:
Despite the fact that a spectator chooses which hand to use, three silver dollars are made to pass through the table in an impossible and completely clean manner.
Performance:
1) Six silver dollars are in a row on the table before you. The left hand picks up the three coins one by one, starting from the left and exhibits them on the open hand.
2) The right hand fingers, putting one coin on the other, stack up the remaining three coins from right to left.
3) Right after the two coins are stacked onto the third coin by the right fingers, the stack is slid to the edge of the table and lapped at the same time that both the left and right hands turn face up and close into fists, supposedly holding three coins apiece. Actually, only the left fist holds three coins because the other three were lapped by the right hand.
4) The fall of the three coins into the lap must be timed perfectly so they can be "clipped" between the thighs. This closing of the thighs produces a sound EXACTLY like the three coins being gripped by the closing right hand. Also, the sound made by the coins closing in the left hand adds greatly to the illusion.
5) Ask one of the spectators which hand he or she would like you to make its coins penetrate the tabletop. Actually, you DO use whichever is chosen...either as the hand above the table or below the table, ala magician's choice. If the spectator chooses the left hand you open and show the three coins and put it below the table to get the three coins from the lap and complete the effect.
If the right hand (empty) is chosen you just hold it above the table...say,"OK"...show the coins in the left hand...close it and put it under the table to complete the effect. Either way, it looks like the spectator had the choice. The only thing they didn't realize is WHICH choice. It works beautifully...try it.
You will have to play around with this a while to get the timing and sound you are looking for. It does not appear possible that you could do any kind of sneaky move to get any coins under the table, and the sound is the convincer when the coins are gripped by both hands.
If this technique is given sufficient practice and timing, the effect will leave nothing to be desired and will fit well into your coins through table routine at any point or as a separate effect of itself.
