Puzzle

110 entries in Coin / Effect Themes / Puzzle
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Scherz-Aufgabe puzzle with three coins
 		Feb. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 2)
30
Die durchdringende Münze cardboard with a hole smaller than a coin, challenge to pass coin through hole
Related to Nov. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 11)
175
Zur "Durchdringenden Münze" clarifying illustration
Related to Dec. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 12)
189
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Drei gleich Zehn counting and picking up coins puzzle
 		1930
Zauberkunststücke
25
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Ein Geldstück aus der Hand bürsten bar bet, spectator tries to remove coin from performer's hand with a brush and fails
 		1930
Zauberkunststücke
25
Tom Darlington Tip Tap Top puzzle/bar bet with coin and cigarette pack
 		1939
The Jinx (Issue Summer Extra 1939)
408
Getting Coin in Glass paper on glass, coin on top, getting coin in glass without touching paper (no snap!)
 		1940
The Jinx (Issue 93)
580
Emil Jarrow Dimes and Pennies of Confucius puzzle
Related toAlso published here 1940
The Jinx (Issue 105)
631
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betcha bar bet, drinking from a glass while arm is held by spectator, coin gag
 		Sep. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 17)
70
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz, Walter B. Gibson Betcha
  • boiling water in a paper bag
  • beer bet
  • coin bet / puzzle ("One is not a nickel")
Variations Dec. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 24)
101
Frederick Mosteller Fred Mosteller's Solution to No. 87 logic word puzzle, weight problem with a fake coin
 		Aug. 1945
The Phoenix (Issue 90)
366
R. J. Cooper A Table Interlude balancing a Dime on a folded bill, on the table
 		June 1947
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 5 No. 1)
329
Dr. William Weyeneth Gagnez vos paris coin in bottle filled with water is removed under handkerchief without spilling, followed by german translation "Um Ihre Wette zu gewinnen"
 		Jan. 1948
La Baguette Magique (Issue 19)
5
Sixteen Coin Puzzle
1949
Over the Coffee Cups
21
Three Stunts with a Dime bets and gags with coins
 		1949
Over the Coffee Cups
21
Johnny Paul Spinning the Half Dollar spinning a coin on its edge without touching it
Also published here 1949
Over the Coffee Cups
22
Penny Puzzle how many letters on coin, puzzle
 		1949
Over the Coffee Cups
22
Glass and Check removing check under glass, with coin balancing on rim
 		1949
Over the Coffee Cups
25
Bottle (26)
  • Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Tricks
bottle reversed on coin, removing coin without touching bottle, puzzle
 		June 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 9 No. 1)
806
Chair (3)
  • Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Tricks
tied on chair, spectator has to move coin from mouth into purse which is on head
 		Aug. 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 9 No. 3)
829
Tom Fitzgerald Cute Coins eight-pointed star, coins have to be moved, puzzle, see also p. 48 and p. 52
Also published here May 1954
The New Phoenix (Issue 306)
22
Dr. William Weyeneth Eine magische Groteske coin in glass adheres to paperclip on thread, as puzzle
 		1957
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 18 No. 4)
525
Bob Bergheim Coin Displacement Puzzle
Related to Mar. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 3 No. 5)
166
Bob Bergheim Coin Puzzle solution
Related to Apr. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 3 No. 6)
170
Mel Stover Penny Pick-up
July 1968
Ibidem (Issue 33)
16
Emil Jarrow, Theodore Annemann All In A Row coin layout puzzle
Related to Dec. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 2)
386
Martin Gardner Turnabout Coins coin layout puzzle
Related toVariationsAlso published here Mar. 1971
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 5)
412
There She Blows coin spins on glass, stunt
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
23
To Spin a Coin without Touching it
1974
Tricks with Coins
24
Heads or Tails divining if coin falls heads or tails after it is spun on table
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
27
Sneak it Out coin under glass is moved without touching glass, bar bet
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
48
Snap a Coin bar bet with coin, coin turns over on wrist
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
49
The Balanced Coin on finger, with card
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
61
Moneda que Gira Sin Tocarla bar bet with a coin, spinning it without touching
Also published here 1975
Magia en el Bar
106
Martin Gardner Turnabout coin layout puzzle
Also published here 1977
The Magic Book
88
Ein Balance Problem balancing a coin on a bill
 		Dec. 1979
Intermagic (Vol. 6 No. 3 & 4)
108
Münzen collection of eight bar bets and puzzles with coins
 		Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
18
Jules Lenier Ten Penny Impromptu Quickie math puzzle with ten pennies, spectator picks ups some pennies in both hands and does calculations
 		1982
Miracles of my Friends
97
Geldschwindel coin short change sucker gag
 		Aug. 1983
Intermagic (Vol. 10 No. 2)
61
Karl Fulves Penny Papers "A column devoted to some of the best games, puzzles and stunts with money"
column introduction
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
34
Karl Fulves A 5-Penny Bet "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
34
Karl Fulves Roll Around "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
34
Karl Fulves Date Bet "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
35
Karl Fulves Penny Checkers "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
37
Karl Fulves Counting "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 2)
37
Karl Fulves How Many Heads? "Penny Papers", on a quarter
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 3)
54
Karl Fulves The Marrakech Game betting game with coins, guessing value of hidden coins
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 4)
60
Karl Fulves Crypto Coins "Penny Papers", letters in an equation stand for letters or coins
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 4)
70
Karl Fulves Tri Hex "Penny Papers", game with coins related to Tic Tac Toe
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 4)
71
Karl Fulves Not a Half "Penny Papers", twist on catch question "one of them is not a half dollar"
Inspired by 1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
85
Karl Fulves The Distance "Penny Papers", layout puzzle
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
85
Karl Fulves Two Headed "Penny Papers", bet about head on both sides of a penny
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
86
Karl Fulves Triangle Solitaire "Penny Papers"
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
87
Karl Fulves Penny Hex "Penny Papers", layout puzzle
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
88
Karl Fulves Touch Four "Penny Papers", layout puzzle
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 5)
88
Karl Fulves Catchbets No. 6, on bets in which the sneak solution does not work as expected
  • coin on strip of paper on edge of glass has to be put into glass
  • three coins in a row, some can be touched, some moved
  • tearing a strip of paper, one hand on each end, into three pieces, posed as a problem
Related to 1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 6)
93
Karl Fulves Another Quarter "Penny Papers", probability question about having another quarter
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 6)
104
Karl Fulves Two Heads "Penny Papers", layout puzzle with coins and a straight line
 		1985
S-C — Contemporary Money Magic (Issue 6)
105
Münzen seventeen impromptu magic items and gags with coins
 		Dec. 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 3 & 4)
133
Hans-Gerhard Stumpf Ein Bluff mit Münzen counting coins in an odd way but it adds up at the end, puzzle
 		1986
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 47 No. 6)
190
Karl Fulves Betcha adding digits on coin
 		1988
Interlocutor (Issue 48)
211
Tower of Nickels No. 28, stack of coins, problem to move top coin one coin down without touching the stack
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
40
Tom Fitzgerald Spread the Wealth No. 30, eight-pointed star, coins have to be moved, puzzle
Also published here 1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
41
Penny Hex No. 31, layout puzzle with six coins
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
42
On the Line No. 35, line on paper, placing three coins on paper so that two heads are on one side and two tails on other side of line
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
44
Triangle Solitaire No. 36, coin layout game/puzzle
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
44
Touch Four No. 37, layout puzzle
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
45
Two-Headed Coin No. 38, "how many heads on a quarter?"
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
45
Not a Half No. 41, trick question about two coins
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
46
Penny Catch No. 42, trick question
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
46
Penny Checkers No. 43, layout puzzle
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
46
Date Bet No. 45, guessing year on coin, trick question
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
47
R. J. Cooper Balancing Act No. 46, balancing coin on bill
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
47
Emil Jarrow Confucius Coins No. 47, coin layout puzzle
Also published here 1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
48
G. W. Lewthwaite Sharper's Game No. 48, layout puzzle with coins on checkerboard, spectator loses
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
50
Karl Fulves, Martin Gardner Well Stacked on top of bottle is a bill, followed by a stack of coins, problem of removing the bill, multiple methods
Related to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 2)
23
Rudolf Braunmüller Aufsitzer & Bierwetten collection of bar bets
  • Verschiedene Wetten
    • Die dreifache Gemeinheit (drinking shot glass under hat without touching)
    • Für Trinkfeste (drinking three beers faster than someone else three shot glasses)
    • Beantwortungs-Wetten
    • Münzenwetten
    • Eine Pokerwette (cards taken openly from face-up deck, yet spectator loses)
    • Die nächste Karte, die ich umdrehe, ist Ihre! (Circus Card trick)
  • Zauberer-Wetten (for magicians)
    • Der Center Tear
    • Der Münzenschnipper
    • Mental-Farbwürfel
    • Der Faro-Mischkünstler
 		June 1991
Intermagic (Vol. 16 No. 2)
79
Pennies Bet incomplete
 		1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
72
Karl Fulves Dime Bet using Sure Shot Dice Box to shake a dime, when opened the coin stands on its edge in the box
 		1991
Super Shot Notes
8
Münzen-Balance coin balanced on folded paper
 		1993
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 55 No. 2)
27
Bob Farmer Heads I Win, Tails You Lose bet in which three coins in a row must be turned all heads-up
 		Sep. 1993
MAGIC (Vol. 3 No. 1)
58
Bob Farmer Squeeze Play challenge of removing two coins that are balancing on the rim of a glass
 		Sep. 1993
MAGIC (Vol. 3 No. 1)
59
Bob Farmer The Unbreakable Bank word-play bet about the amount of money one has in the fist
Related to July 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Stand Up and Be Counted bet about standing a quarter on its edge
 		July 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Rolling Coins puzzle about coin circumference, moving one coin around the other
 		Nov. 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 3)
75
Bruce Bernstein Pennies From Heaven square of coins, ten in each row, coins are moved and still ten in each row
 		1994
Going South With His Secrets
12
Martin Gardner Cornered bar bet with checkerboard pattern and coins
 		1995
Underworld (Issue 2)
23
Mel Stover False Odds bet about odd/even number of coins in hand
 		Apr. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 8)
86
Mel Stover EquivoCoin odd/even word-play with three coins in hand
 		Apr. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 8)
86
Bob Farmer Reversal Of Fortune bet about reversing the order of a stack of coins
 		July 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 11)
70
Bob Farmer Spin to Win head and tail distribution bet when removing a bunch of coins from under a tray, parity
Related to July 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 11)
70
Bob Farmer Catch 24 scam bet on guessing the date on a coin from its other side
 		Nov. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 3)
78
Bob Driebeek Das Erbe des alten Arabers illogical puzzle, dividing money under three sons, done with real coins
Related to 1996
Aenigmas Rätsel
37
Bob Farmer A Cut of the Cash bet about removing strip of paper from between mouth of bottle and stack of coins
 		Mar. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 7)
72
Martin Gardner The Puzzling Quarters
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
puzzle about moving coins around on a surface without touching
 		Oct. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 2)
89
Harry Baker Das Sternenquiz star layout puzzle
 		1997
Intermagic (Vol. 21 No. 3)
114
Martin Gardner Two Ten-Cent Betchas
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
picking up a coin with a straw, and dropping a coin so it lands on its edge
 		June 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 10)
76
Giovanni Livera Count Down Con Do As I Do counting from ten to one with three tabled coins or object, spectator cannot repeat procedure
Also published here
  • The Amazing Cigar, written by Jon Racherbaumer
 Oct. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 2)
78
Karl Fulves Roundabout on a bar bet in which a coin leaning against a glass must be hit away with another coin
Related to 2000
Charlatan (Issue 3)
30
Mel Bennett Hopscotch puzzle/game in which coins have to be moved on a layout
Inspired by
  • Martin Gardner article in Parade Magazine, May 23, 1999
Related to 		2000
Charlatan (Issue 4)
47
David Britland An Old Bar Bet three coins add up to eight pence with one of them not being a penny, verbal deception
 		2000
Virtual Miracles
[6]
Martin Gardner Estimating Height
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
stacking pennies and estimating how much are needed to exceed the diameter of a dime
 		Sep. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 13 No. 1)
110
Mel Bennett Metamorphosis layout puzzle with coins
 		2005
Latter Day Secrets (Issue 10)
425
Karl Fulves Re-Shape The Pyramid coin layout puzzle
 		2008
Prolix (Issue 5)
298
Román García El Juego que Yo no le Haria a Dai Vernon puzzle illustrated with cards, finally a coin appears under a card
 		2010
Nanomagias
111
Nick Trost Spinning Nickel Poker using beveled edge coins
Also published here
  • "Spinning Nickel Poker" (Nick Trost, Expert Gambling Tricks, 1975)
 2015
The Bammo Ten Card Deal Dossier
263
Tony Slydini Do As I Do Coins three coins picked up and set back down with ten-to-one count, spectator cannot duplicate it
Related to Jan. 2017
Genii (Vol. 80 No. 1)
21
Matt Baker Three Coin Monte Standard Monte plot, but done with coins, one of them with an X drawn on it, ends with the target coin in coin pouch
 		2019
The Buena Vista Shuffle Club
121
Chris Wardle Coin Conundrum number puzzle of dividing a certain amount equally amongst people is illustrated with coins, amount changes
 		Jan. 2022
Genii (Vol. 85 No. 1)
78
Jon Racherbaumer, Tony Slydini The Closer You Watch, The Less You See
  • Exhumations
three coins picked up and set back down with ten-to-one count, spectator cannot duplicate it
Related to June 2022
Genii (Vol. 85 No. 6)
47