Magic with money: tricks that liven up parties and performances
It’s pretty cool to be able to casually perform a magic trick at a party or as entertainment, isn’t it?
That said, many people probably think, “Magic is a hassle because you have to prepare props in advance.”
But with money magic, you can perform using the coins or bills you’re already carrying, so it’s easy and convenient.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of magic tricks that use money.
Some of them do require solid technique, but there are also self-working tricks that you can do just by following the steps.
Give them a try!
Money magic: Tricks with cash that liven up parties and performances (1–10)
A coin passing through a glass
The coin-through-glass magic trick—this one is amazing! It looks difficult at first, but once you understand the method, it’s quite approachable.
You pretend to grab the coin, tap the bottom of the glass with that hand, and actually drop the coin you were secretly holding.
If you can nail the timing, it works beautifully.
There’s also a fun version where you hide the coin in a gimmicked coaster you can buy at a shop.
At first you might think, “No way, that’s impossible,” but with practice you’ll be surprised how doable it becomes.
The charm of this trick is that it stimulates not just sight but sound as well.
The noise at the moment the coin “passes” through the glass doubles the audience’s astonishment.
Definitely give it a try—you’re in for a wonderful experience!
A coin passes through the palm.
This is a magic trick where a coin that was supposedly placed on the back of your hand appears to pass through your palm and drop below on cue.
It uses a simple method called the classic palm, a technique for secretly holding a coin in the hand.
Although you seem to pass the coin to the other hand as you gesture over it, the coin never actually goes there.
Pay close attention to the angles of both hands so it looks like the coin is moving back and forth while keeping the coin inside well concealed.
Using the same technique, you can also add productions and vanishes to enhance the impression that you’re controlling the coin—highly recommended.
Tissues that can be exchanged for money
It’s a magic trick where you squeeze a crumpled tissue in your palm and it turns into a banknote.
In advance, you secretly hold a crumpled bill in one hand and make it look as if you’ve passed the crumpled tissue into that hand.
The key points are the orientation of your hands so it really looks like the tissue has moved.
It’s also important to hold the bill or tissue in a way that doesn’t give it away—pay attention to your finger angles and create a natural hand shape.
Coin vanish magic using the retention vanish
When you squeeze the coin as if crushing it, it vanishes from your palm—this is a magic trick called the retention vanish.
The method is simple: you make it look like you’re placing the coin into one hand, when it’s actually in the other.
The key is in the subtle details that prevent the audience from noticing.
First, the coin’s material matters; by being mindful not only of angles but also of how the light reflects, you make the coin harder to see as you conceal it.
It’s also important to create a convincing afterimage through how you hold and move the coin and how you time the closing of both hands.
Coin change (10 yen → 500 yen)
This is a magic trick where a 10-yen coin vanishes in an instant and turns into a 500-yen coin.
It’s actually a real eye-opener.
You stack two 500-yen coins and keep their edges facing the audience, then cover them with a 10-yen coin to conceal the setup.
By practicing the hand movement for the change, you can perform it casually and smoothly.
If you practice controlling the coins with your fingertips, you’ll be able to perform confidently in any situation.
Why not try it at a dinner party or during a quick break at the office? You’re sure to leave an unforgettable impression.
A magic trick where a bill levitates
It’s a money-floating magic trick.
Even beginners can do it easily.
Because it’s so simple, to be honest, the trick is pretty obvious.
But even if people catch on, you can turn it into a laugh, so I recommend performing it at gatherings like drinking parties.
In fact, the real fun of this trick is letting it get exposed and getting laughs from it.
Coin Vanish and Production Using the Wilson Palm
One of the fundamental techniques in magic is the palm.
A palm is the act of secretly holding an object in your hand.
Among these, let me introduce a trick that makes a coin vanish from and appear at your fingertips using a palm called the Wilson Palm.
You hold the coin as if pinching it between the right thumb and index finger.
Then, when you briefly wave your left hand over it, the coin vanishes.
All you’re doing is hiding the coin in a blind spot, but when you try it, you’ll find it’s surprisingly challenging.
That said, precisely because it’s simple, it looks impressive—so definitely aim to master it.
