Coin snatching, often nicknamed the Chinese elbow trick, consists of a simple
illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people.
Illusions may o ...
in which a coin is placed on the elbow, the hand of the same arm is placed on the arm's shoulder, and the hand is swung forward to catch the coin. The trick can also be performed with a stack of coins. If performed correctly with a stack of coins, it will appear that they have
teleported
Teleportation is the hypothetical transfer of matter or energy from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. It is a common subject in science fiction literature and in other popular culture. Teleportation is oft ...
with a bang.
A world record of 328 coins was set in 1993 by Michael Torres,
World Records for Coin Snatching
/ref> in accordance with British rules which specify that coins must be 10g or heavier (ruling out US quarter
The quarter, short for quarter dollar, is a United States coin worth 25 cents, one-quarter of a dollar. The coin sports the profile of George Washington on its obverse, and after 1998 its reverse design has changed frequently. It has been produ ...
s), that they may be arranged in multiple stacks, and that the catcher is allowed to drop some coins, counting only those that remain in the hand.
References
Magic tricks
Coin magic
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