Coin Shells

These coins fit over a normal sized duplicate and will look like one coin. Features of Tango shells is that the rims are always totally straight, not angled out (as that’s a bad thing). We also admire that the rims come almost all the way down to almost completely cover the coin they nest over.

Jump to: American shells | Euros | English coins | Chinese coins


Select the shell coins that you'd like to purchase below and then click the "Add to Cart" button below:

American coins (expanded)

American coins (super-expanded)

American coins (steel shim)

American coins (slippery Sam style)

Euros (expanded)

Euros (steel shim)

English coins

American coins (shell sets)


Coin Shells

Types of Shell

Expanded Shells
An expanded shell is a coin shell that fits over a regular coin. Many years ago, you would need to buy a shell and a milled down down to fit it, but nowadays an expanded shell is the standard shell for most magic tricks.

Super Expanded Shells
The "super" expanded shell is meant to fit over a typical expanded shell. In this way you can nest three coins in what appears to be just one coin.

Slippery Sam Shells
A Slippery Sam Shell is often used for routines such as Three-Fly. In this gimmick only half of the edge of the coin is remaining, allowing you to slide the coin into the shell and have it "lock" in place only when fully nested. This type of gimmick was popularized by Steve Dusheck and invented by Edward Bagshawe in the late 1920s.

Shim Shell
Shim Shells are expanded shells that have a thin piece of metal hidden inside that allow them to be attracted by a magnet. These can then be used in conjuction with gimmicks such as a Raven to steal away the shell.


Repairing a shell

Stuck shell? Or need to expand it a little more? Read our blog post to learn how to repair an exapnded shell.


A turtle?

It seems that Penn & Teller's use of the word "turtle" to to refer to a coin shell on their Fool Us television show has moved into general magic terminology and many newcomers to magic now use that word in place of a shell.

Gimmick Coins for Magic Tricks

Turn your coin magic into a coin miracle with the addition of a gimmicked coin. We stock a complete range: