up.  To execute the pick up move, press in the middle of the card with your first |
| finger. On a soft pad this will cause the card to buckle as the center of the card is |
| pressed into the mat. You will note the coin is also levered up along with the edge of |
| the card. The thumb can press against the edge of the card and against the |
| coin at the same time as the second finger presses against the other long edge of the |
| card. After the card is raised from the table a bit the second finger |
| allows its edge of the card to slip off of the end of the finger snapping into the mat. |
| Then the first finger presses against the card pressing the card and coin |
| against the thumb. The audience believes you have picked up a card, allowed |
| one edge to snap off of the second finger and is then holding it between your thumb |
| and first finger. Here is a minor point. Holding the card with the coin toward the table |
| seems to suggest that you are holding something hidden behind the card. If you rotate |
| your hand a bit so the coin comes uppermost but remains out of sight, the suggestion |
| that the card has nothing hidden behind it is better. I initially did this routine |
| with quarters. Because quarters are small they will not be seen as the card and coin is |
| raised into the air. Thus, with quarters, the card and coin can rise into the air some |
| distance before the second finger releases its edge. Half dollars have the problem of |
| extending under the card as it is initially raised into the air. Snapping the card into the |
| mat as the card and coin leave the table solves this problem. Thus, as the card is raised |
| from the table a half is concealed. |
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