Effect
The performer borrows a handkerchief and places it over the open palm of his right hand, center of the handkerchief being over the palm and the ends draping over the hand. A half dollar and an English penny, token, or lucky piece (How about a Green River coin ? Ed.) are shown and placed on the handkerchief. The hand turns palm downward so that the handkerchief covers the coins, and it is twisted around them making their escape impossible. A spectator now holds the end of the handkerchief and can feel the coins inside. Still holding the ends he names a coin he wants, silver or copper, and the performer removes the coin apparently through the cloth.
Method
The borrowed handkerchief is draped over the open right hand and the coins put on it. The thumb, first and second fingers of the right hand grasp the coins thru the cloth and hold them fanned apart, one overlapping the other. The right side of the body should be facing the audience.
With the coins in this position, the right hand is turned over, palm to the floor. If the hand is turned over slowly, the handkerchief will not fall completely from the hand, but one end will be draped over the arm. The left hand comes over, picking up this end and removing it from the right arm, bringing the end down with the other ends. It is in this position that the important move takes place. As the left hand brings the end down, the left hand will be directly under the right, and at this moment the right hand releases one of the coins (it does not matter which one) which is caught in the left hand. The hand containing the coin is brought up in the back of the handkerchief and the coin placed against the one in the handkerchief. This should all be done in one continuous move.
The handkerchief is now folded around the coins and twisted to hold them in place. A spectator holds the ends with one hand and with his free hand is allowed to feel the coins within the folds. He is then asked which coin he wants. If the silver coin is outside the handkerchief, and that is the one he wants, take it from the folds with a pulling and twisting action as if you were working it through the cloth and give it to him.
If he has asked for copper, you would have done the same thing and kept the silver coin, telling him he has what he asked for and you’ll take back the other.
For those who exercise a little more skill I can give a more subtle method. Everything is the same up to the point where the right hand turns the palm downward. Instead of a slow turnover, the right hand is brought around to the left in a rather fast semi-circle which will throw the handkerchief from over the right hand when it will hang from the fingers and thumb of the right hand holding it. As the right hand is being turned over and is about half way around, one of the coins is let go and caught by the left hand. As your right side is toward the audience, the coin flying thru the air and being caught by the left hand will be masked by the handkerchief in front of it. The handkerchief is now placed over the coin in the left hand and the handkerchief is twisted around both of them. From here proceed as in the first method.
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