Coin magic is one of the most visual and rewarding branches of sleight of hand, but it can also feel intimidating to those just getting started. With so many tutorials available online, it isn’t always easy to know where to begin or which teachers provide the clearest instruction.
This collection is designed to guide you through that journey step by step.
We begin with a couple beginner-friendly tutorials that teach the essential fundamentals every coin magician should know. From there, the recommendations progress into more in-depth lessons on some of the classic effects in coin magic using regular coins, giving you the opportunity to apply those fundamentals in a complete routine.
Finally, the collection concludes with a look at gaffed coin magic. These videos introduce some of the incredible possibilities that specialized coins can unlock, including an excellent discussion of the Flipper Coin, one of my personal favorite gaffs because of its versatility, deceptive nature, and the wide range of effects it makes possible.
These tutorials have been intentionally arranged from beginner concepts to more advanced material. If you’re new to coin magic, I recommend watching them in the order presented for the best learning experience.
Beginner Coin Magic Tutorial by Rick Holcombe:
In this video, Rick Holcombe teaches a full routine that can be done with just a pen and a coin. It includes several different techniques that will provide a great foundation for any magician just getting into coin magic.
Beginner One-Coin Foundations by Doug Conn:
This tutorial from Doug Conn goes over more sleights that will allow you to amaze an audience with just a single coin. He goes over everything from palming, vanishes, productions, and even how to routine it all together to make it your own.
Ungimmicked Coin Tutorial by Craig Petty:
In this video, Craig shows off 5 different coin tricks with ungimmicked coins, and gives tutorials of how to perform all of them! These are some great magical coin effects that anyone can do with just regular coins, and can help anyone start building a real repertoire of coin magic.
Gadabout Coins by Rick Holcombe:
Here, Rick Holcombe goes over a classic effect from Bobo’s Modern Coin Magic called Gadabout Coins. It is also sometimes known as two in the hand, one in the pocket. He explains how this is a great trick to practice early on because it does not require any difficult sleight of hand, but if you want you can incorporate different sleights you are practicing to make it even more powerful.
Copper Silver Brash by Doug Conn:
Now we are getting to some effects that require some special coins, which can create some very powerful and seemingly impossible effects. In this one, Doug Conn teaches his version of a copper/silver transposition which is a lot of fun.
Flipper Coin Masterclass by Craig Petty:
This is a deep dive into one of my personal favorite coin gaffs, the Flipper Coin. In this video Craig talks about the different types of flipper coins, which one you should buy and how to use the gaff properly. He also shows some of his favorite routines and provides some inspiration to help get you thinking about how to include a flipper coin in your routines.
more resources:
Video is a wonderful way to learn the mechanics of coin magic, but books often provide the deeper thinking, subtleties, and variations that can turn a move into a complete piece of magic.
Rick Holcombe — Calico
If Rick Holcombe’s coin magic resonates with you, Calico is a wonderful next step. The book is filled with creative routines, practical techniques, and thoughtful construction that demonstrate Rick’s imaginative approach to coin magic. Many of the same principles that make his video instruction so engaging can be found throughout its pages.
Craig Petty — Absolute Madness
Craig Petty is known for developing practical, commercial magic with a modern approach, and Absolute Madness is no exception. In addition to strong routines and professional insights, the book explores the creative possibilities of gaffed coins—including the Flipper Coin, one of my personal favorite gimmicks because of the astonishing visual magic it makes possible.
➡ View Absolute Madness in the Research Card Catalogue
Visit the Fresno Magic Club Card Catalogue to discover classic and modern coin magic books, read reviews, browse by author or skill level, and continue your journey into one of magic’s most fascinating disciplines.
Further Study:
All of the above recommendations reflect tutorials that I have personally found especially valuable in my own study of coin magic. They are not intended to be a complete list of the excellent instructional material available on YouTube. New tutorials are released regularly, and this collection will continue to grow as I discover additional resources that I believe are worth sharing.
While this page highlights only a handful of videos, every creator featured here has produced many other outstanding tutorials. If you find a teaching style that resonates with you, I highly encourage you to explore the rest of that creator’s channel. Many of the best lessons in magic come from following a teacher’s complete body of work rather than watching a single video, and each of these creators has made significant contributions to the magic community through their willingness to share their knowledge.
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