The Big Coin and Salt ShakerThrough Table Routine

By Dan Turcotte

IntroductionThe coin or salt shaker through table trick is one of the most entertaining routines you can perform. It leaves people completely baffled and entertained.

I have been developing and performing the following routine for many years. The most important factor in making this routine, as successful as possible, is to keep the routine flowing with very few pauses. This is not to say that you have to hurry through the routine.

You can also perform this routine with a small coin by making it go through the table after producing it, and then proceed to make the salt or pepper shaker go through the table.

RequirementsOne big coin, preferably a large penny. Keep it in your back right pocket until you are ready to perform the routine. Big coins can be found at any magic shop.One paper placemat or a set of 5 unfolded dinner table napkins.

Introduction and Table of contentsThe Routine PerformanceThe Routine PerformanceThe Routine PerformanceThe Big Coin Vanish TechniqueCredits

Table of ContentsPage 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 6

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Have two or three spectators stand on the opposite side of the table. You can also do this routine with a spectator standing on your right side.

Borrow or produce a regular penny from one of your spectatorʼs ears.

Show everyone the penny and say, “Can anyone read the date on the coin?” As you say this, move your hand around, so that no one can read the date of the coin. Keep your right hand with the palmed coin on the side of or close to your right leg.

After a couple of seconds slap the penny onto the top of your right hand and let the palmed big coin fall to the table. The coin production happens as you say, “Well if you canʼt read the date on it will it help if I make the coin bigger?”

As soon as the coin falls out of your hand and hits the table, take the little penny off the back of your right hand with your left hand, and place it in your pocket or let it fall under the table. You then pick up the big coin and show everyone that it does have a date on it and it is very easy to read.

You can then say, “Do you see the hole in the table?” When you say this you can pretend to put your right index finger through the table. This is accomplished by bending your finger inward as you pretend to press it into the table.

You now display the big coin for a few seconds and then pretend to put the coin into your left hand. Immediately pretend to smash the coin right through the table. (See big coin vanish fine points.) You then bring the big coin up from underneath the table and say, “Did you see the coin go through the table?”

Pause for a couple of seconds, set the coin face up on the table and say, “Would you like to see that again?” Everyone will say, “Yes.”

The RoutineJust before you start this routine or as someone in your audience looks for a penny that you can borrow, steal the big coin out of your right back pocket and hold against the bottom of your palm. You must make sure your right hand looks relaxed.

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Once your audience says “Yes,” to the last sentence, there will be a number of things that happen at nearly the same time.

You now look at one of the audience members and say, “Salt or Pepper?” This is not a really a proper question, but it serves the purpose of keeping your audience slightly off balance. Whatever the person choses pick up that item and say, “Ok we will use the _____.” Immediately turn to one of the assistants and say, “Would you hold your left hand over the salt shaker and at the count of three, I want you to hit the coin through the table.” As you are saying this sentence you have to reach for the placemat and cover the salt shaker. When you cover the salt shaker, you have to make sure that you do not shape the paper or napkins so tightly that it will not slip out, when it comes time to do the steal.

Current situation: You are holding the spectatorʼs open hand over the salt or pepper shaker which has been covered with a napkin or paper placemat. If you have a few assistants standing and helping with the trick, have the extra assistants put their hands over the back of the first assistantʼs hand.

You now lift up the salt shaker and placemat and say, “See -- the coin is there isnʼt it?” They will say “Yes.” You now set the salt shaker back on top of the coin, so that it makes a bit of noise when it hits the table. You will be simulating this noise, when you have the salt shaker under the table and the shell of the napkin on top of the table.

Just after your assistants say “Yes,” adjust their hands a bit and say, “When I count to three I want all of you to press down on the salt shaker and the coin will go right through the table. Are you ready?” They will all say “Yes.” By saying this at least two times during a routine, you will stretch it out a bit longer and build up more suspence. This also makes it very clear to the rest of your audience exactly what is supposed to happen and keeps everyones attention focused on top of the table.

Once they say they are ready, let go of the spectators ̓hands with your right hand, grip the salt or pepper shaker and put your open left hand under the table and say, “One, two, three weeks ago the person hit my arm so hard he almost broke it.” Your assistant or assistants will ninety percent of the time, hit down on the top of the salt or pepper shaker when you say the word three. This always makes everyone laugh and sets up the stealing actions that will happen next.

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Just after you finish saying the last sentence and as you begin to say the next sentence, look up, pick up the salt shaker and move it backwards to the edge of the table. At the same time bring your left hand backward and place it underneath the salt shaker and let it fall into your left hand.

When you do these actions the drop off should look like a natural gesturing motion. The drop off action should happen while you say, “Oh, you know what happened? (No pause.) He has to see where he is going. (Look down at the coin.) Will you turn the coin face down please?” (Look up.) One of your assistants will turn the coin face down.

Everyones attention will be completely focused on what your assistants are doing. The drop off can happen just as you start the previous sentence or when you look up at your audience after saying the word “please.”

As soon as the one of the assistants finishes turning over the coin, set the salt shaker shell on top of the coin and immediately reach up and regrip the spectatorʼs fingers.

Note: At the exact instant your right hand pretends to set the salt shaker on the table, tap the actual salt shaker in your left hand, on the bottom side of the table. This will create the perfect illusion.

Note: You have to make sure the shell of the napkin or placemat does not open as you raise your right hand to regrip the spectatorʼs fingers.

Current situation: You are secretely holding the salt shaker underneath the table and you have a paper or napkin shell on top of the big coin on top of the table. Your right hand is holding and positioning the spectatorʼs hands about ten inches above the shell of the salt shaker.

You now begin the count and say, “Are you ready.?” they will say “Yes.” Continue by saying, “One, two, three.” The assistants will hit the shell of the coin and be shocked that the napkin has collapsed and the salt shaker has vanished.

Lift the napkin or placemat and bring out the salt shaker from beneath the table and say, “You made the salt go right through the table.” Pause for a moment and say, “Letʼs give my assistants a big round of applause.”

You now thank your audience and say goodbye...

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The Big Coin VanishI use a very simple big coin vanish for this routine. It is very similar to a false pick up vanish with a regular sized coin. It is also a modified version of the Tenkai palm.

Starting Position- Hold a big coin with right thumb on top of the coin and your second finger below the coin.Your other fingers should remain fairly close together.

-Your right fingers should point to the left, squared to the floor.

- As you display the coin with your right hand, your left hand should be lightly holding the other edge of the coin.

When you do the vanish, there are a number of things that happen at almost the same time.

The Vanish- After a slight pause, bring your hands together so they meet in the middle of your body. Your left handʼs curled fingers will cover the coin, and at the same time you have to loosen your grip on the coin with your right fingers, just enough so the coin twirls back into your right palm.

- As the coin twirls back into your right palm you have turn your right wrist towards the floor in order to hide the coin.

Your left hand will then simulate slamming the coin through the table just after your right hand goes underneath the table with the big coin. You must get your right hand ready to tap the shaker underneath the table at the exact moment your left hand touches the table.

NotesYou can enhance this vanish, if you start with your hands just above waist level, and then move them together and upward about five inches, before you do the vanishing

actions.The vanish actions should happen as you say the word

“Go” as described in the routines wording.

CreditsThe big coin, small object or salt shaker through table, has been around for hundreds of years. I cannot find the

orgination of this routine.There are many sources for learning coin magic. Here are a few of the most notable

contributors to this field: Boboʼs Coin Magic, Gary Kurtz - Florious, David Williamsonʼs video, the Magic of Tenkai and the David Roth Coin video.

I only lay claim to this lesson and associated files.Many thanks and good luck with your magic,

Dan Turcotte - October 31, 2004© 2004 YouDoMagic.com