This routine was inspired by Shaun McCree’s SILVER PLATING effect which I published in the British Close Up Magic Symposium Book – The First Decade. Shaun took the David Williamson premise of apparently inserting a coin into a pen and then removing the cap and knocking the coin out again (from Williamson’s Wonders by Richard Kaufman, 1989) and extended it to three coins. His method required very high levels of skill involving multiple palming and although Shaun can do it, I suspect many others (myself included!) would give up half way through.

I loved the idea but wanted to simplify the handling while retaining the essential flavour of the trick. The breakthrough came when I thought of including a purse in the routine. This did away with the need to conceal so many coins at one time and opened up all manner of possibilities for plot and presentation.

Over the next twelve months I tried a number of variations, but found when working for real people that I still had too much to handle and remember, particularly because I wanted to use the effect in my strolling magic shows.

Finally, after further work, I settled on this routine. I still use it regularly and have found it to be totally practical and that it creates much amazement and interest amongst the lay spectators.