[gimmick] 'The Coin Bite'

Today's trick is known as 'The Coin Bite'. This is a highly popular trick that David Blaine has performed in the past. It is an illusion that seems to twist the laws of physics and reality; like most magic tricks. Click here to go directly to Penguin Magic to buy your own 'coin bite gimmick'. The site offers numerous types of coins you can buy such as Canadian Loonies and Toonies to Canadian and American Quarters. This trick is definitely one that all street magicians should have.



The Performance: The magician asks a spectator for a coin such as a quarter. He than takes it and explains to the spectator about melting points and how if you squeeze a coin long enough you can actually bend the metal. He brings the coin up to his mouth and bites off a piece of the coin! Not only that, he than spits the missing piece back restoring the coin to its original state. The coin can than be inspected showing that its just a normal quarter.

The Secret: The quarter that the magician bites a piece off of is a gimmick coin. It is a quarter that has been sawed off in a way that makes it look like it has been bitten off. The two pieces are attached by an elastic. When the magician brings the coin to his mouth, he simply folds over the top piece with his tooth and when he brings the coin back down, he just holds the top piece down with his thumb behind the quarter. When he wants to 'spit' it back together, he just lets go with his thumb and the elastic brings them back in tact.

Method: This performance uses a little bit of misdirection and sleight of hand. When you take the coin that the spectator gives you, you need to switch it secretly with the gimmick coin. Once you have the coin switched than you are all set to go. When the trick is over, just simply switch the coin back to the one that was given to you.If you do not want to use misdirection or sleight of hand, you can do the trick by just saying "watch this" than do the trick and not ask for a coin. But asking for a coin gives the trick a little more of a kick.

Note: Its probably not the best to do this trick with people behind you but if you just happen to have big thumbs and can hide the piece, than go for it.

3 P's Practice, practice, Perform