Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights and 236 Coin Tricks

MCM contains everything you need to know concerning concealment, production and alteration of coins. It has outstanding plots and routines and patter suggestions. It gives detailed accounts of some of the most cherished and "pet" tricks and routines of some of the finest "coin-men" in history. It is laid out very well with a fine index. It also has a history of coin magic. There is so much here that no matter where you start reading, you'll find yourself saying, "hey, I would really like to learn this!". Even though it is a fascinating read and fun to just glance through and dream over, I contend that if you decide to pick an effect, sleight or routine out of MCM and are determined to make it yours NO MATTER WHAT, you will be rewarded with the true wonder of magical study...RESULTS! Many magic books contain great items but lack good explanation which leads to frustration and lack of fulfillment. MCM has a unique quality about it. I think that is what I like most. It really provides the necessary explanation and instruction to actually teach you...if you let it and stay at it. But you have to want to read and study this book if you want the results. Self-working coin tricks are very rare.

While lecturing over the years I had the pleasure to meet many of the contributors of MCM. This was like magic in itself for me. One quick story. I was running the booth for Sasco Magic about 10 years ago at the St. Louis, IBM convention. Needless to say I was demonstrating coin effects, day after day...all day. A number of the true legends of coin magic were at the convention, many of which had effects in the "Bobo Book" (the generic name for MCM). It was a real treat to actually meet them and have them show me the same effects I had read about for years. But the biggest surprise was when Jim Buffaloe, after showing me his phenomenal items, told me that Bobo himself was there and that if I'd like, he'd bring him over to meet me. I could go on and on about the lengthy session that I, along with many other lucky magicians, witnessed that day, but let me say that J.B. Bobo was absolutely no fluke! He could do EVERYTHING in his book to perfection! That was the highlight of the whole convention as far as I was concerned. It was like one of those rare, surreal times we all experience once in a great while. What a trip!

I guess I could go on and on but let me just mention a few of the items I enjoy the most ( it's tough because I could say the whole book!).

Guess which Hand p134

Coin through Ring p171

The Bent Penny p186

Silver Extraction p187

Rattle Box Routine page 207

Presto Chango p245

Stack of Halves p255

Routine #4 p342

You haven't lived until you've curled up with Modern Coin Magic (The "Bobo Book").


Grand-daddy of all coin magic books   July 15, 2004
Bartender Sam (Alexandria, VA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

This book is older than Joan Rivers but has aged much more gracefully. Slieght of hand coin magic just really doesn't change over time and this is the motherload for learning coin magic. If this is a side of magic that interests you than do yourself a favor, read and learn. You can learn these tricks just from this book because of the excellent drawings but it will take practice like any skill.


Not just for Bobos   October 15, 2000
Jose Berlin (Seattle, WA USA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

There's no word to describe this book other than fantabulous. It is the one book every coin prestidigitator must have. It has everything you could ever possibly want to know about coing manipulation from simple passes and vanishes to spectacular routines and seemingly impossible flourishes. It starts from the very beginning so anybody can learn from this book, and finishes where few masters of the art tread. Completely comprehensive, if you so much as master the first couple chapters of the book, you can amaze almost anybody and if you master a couple more, you can amaze the rest. Eveything is clearly explained with many detailed diagrams. It has been the bible for coin magic ever since it came out and I doubt it will be replaced anytime soon. This is a classic that you cannot do without.


The Finest Book Available on Coin Magic   December 1, 1998
MagicTricks.com (Charlottesville, VA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

The legendary J.B. Bobo's book is considered to be the"bible" of coin magic. This book is an absolute requirementfor any magic library. Included are many sleight of hand techniques with coins as well as instructions on the proper handling of coin effect equipment like the Okito box. If you are just learning coin tricks, this is the book to have. And if you are a seasoned magician, there is no better reference for "brushing up".


Coin Masterpiece   November 9, 2000
Mike Williams (CA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This book, which I purchased nearly 6 years ago, is a god send. For those who are not owners of it, it is a well written masterpiece needed in the library of any magi. Even if you are strictly a card manipulator, the concepts and techniques between its covers can open new ways of seeing. I myself prefer to work only with cards, but there have been times when I was without a deck and coins were all I could get my hands on. Without this book I would have been toast. I found this book to be so useful that I now own two copies, the paperback, and the hardback. I suggest to all my fellow magi out there that if you don't have this book, get it, and if you truely love it, find the hardback too. The hardbound edition coontains several more chapters not included in the paper bound edition. Also on my recommendations list are Jean Hugards Royal Road to Card Magic (available heere...), John Northern Hilliards Greater Magic (hard to find, check your dealers or online), and the four volume set entitled Card College by robert Giobbi.