DVD Review: Trespass by Dan Army

In “Trespass,” Dan Army offers three good versions of coin into bottle. In the classic effect, a coin is shown to a spectator - sometimes it’s borrowed - and then the coin is slammed against the bottle - usually on its bottom - and is found inside of the bottle.

In the three versions, the coin penetrates the sides of bottles and is found inside, and the methods can accommodate signed coins. In most coin in bottle effects, the coin is placed into a bottle that has an opening too small to accept the coin. Unlike classic coin in bottle, in Army’s versions, the coins can fit through the neck of the bottle.

The first technique allows for a borrowed and signed coin to visually penetrate the outside of a plastic water bottle, which can even contain some water (you can choose to dump the water out or leave it inside before performing the trick). This one requires some preparation ahead of time and can’t work with a borrowed bottle. The second and third techniques work with a borrowed glass bottle and can accommodate a borrowed and signed coin and require no preparation.

Because the coins can fit through the neck of the glass bottle, be prepared for some heat concerning the fact that the coin somehow passed through the bottle’s opening or that you secretly slipped it inside. I think that the first technique with the plastic water bottle is the most convincing, but all of the material here is visual and solid.

Unfortunately, while the explanations are thorough and informative, there’s no performance video. It would be great to see these techniques in action. If you’ve been wanting to perform coin in bottle, also check out Geir Bratlie’s Infusion; Worlds Greatest Magic: Coin in Bottle, for the classic method; Eric Leclerk’s “Final Cap in Bottle,” found on Jay Sankey’s Underground Jam and Ben Williams’ Labelled.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $29.99

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.