How to Do the Coin in Mouth Trick: The Secret Revealed

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Amaze your friends with this simple sleight-of-hand illusion

Co-authored by Barry McDonough and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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Coin in Mouth Trick Tutorial

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FAQ

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Expert Advice

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More Simple Tricks

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Video

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Tips

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Warnings

Have you seen TikToks of people making a coin disappear from their hand and have it magically reappear inside their mouth and wondered how it’s done? The coin in mouth trick has been a popular trend, and it’s an extremely simple trick you can do for your TikTok feed or your friends. Keep reading, and we’ll reveal the secret to performing the trick and answer a few common questions. We even spoke to professional magicians Barry McDonough and David Martinez for advice on making your trick look more convincing!

Warning: Coins and other small items are choking hazards, so be very careful if you decide to try this trick, and ask a parent’s permission first if you’re a kid!

Coin in Mouth Trick: Quick Steps

Hide a coin inside your mouth by the side of your cheek.
Open your mouth wide and cover the coin with your fingers.
Hold an identical coin in one of your hands.
Make your hands into fists and hold them up near your face.
Discreetly drop the coin so it falls behind your arm.
Open your hands to reveal that they’re empty.
Pretend to cough and spit the coin out of your mouth.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Do the Coin in Mouth Magic Trick

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1
Hide a coin on the side of your cheek. Take any clean and sterilized coin and carefully tuck it between the side of your cheek and your lower gums. Try to keep the coin in the same place so it doesn’t move around or become visible when you open your mouth.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Always clean and sterilize a coin before putting it in your mouth because it can carry bacteria.
- Warning: Coins and other small items are choking hazards, so be extremely careful putting one in your mouth.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Barry McDonough is a Professional Magician and official member of the Society of American Magicians.

David Martinez is a Professional Magician with 20 years of experience performing for parties and events.
Some people like to start the trick by showing that there’s nothing in their mouth. Put your fingers in the sides of your mouth like you’re pulling your mouth open wide. While you’re doing that, cover the coin with your fingers so it’s hidden from view.^{[2]
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Place a second coin in your hand and make a fist. Use the exact same type of coin as the one in your mouth. Show your audience the coin so they can all see it and put it in one of your palms. Then, make both hands into fists and hold them in front of you.
- Wiggle your fingers and add some extra flourish so people pay attention to your hands instead of looking at your mouth.
4
Hold your hands up and drop the coin behind your arm. Hold your fists up so your palms are facing toward you. Tell the audience that you’re going to make the coin disappear from your hand. While you’re explaining or when no one is watching, secretly lift up your fingers so the coin falls out.^{[3]
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- Have the coin fall onto a pillow or into your lap so it doesn’t clatter on the ground.
- If you’re filming this trick for TikTok, just use a different sound on the video so no one can hear the original audio.
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Spit the coin into your hands to end the trick. Open your hands up to show everyone that the coin has completely disappeared. After a few seconds, cough and act like something just appeared in your mouth. Then, move the coin with your tongue and spit it out into your hand to make the coin magically reappear!^{[4]
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- This is the big reveal, so really try to sell the moment! Pretend to gag and act surprised like you weren’t expecting the coin to come back!

Section 2 of 4:

Coin in Mouth Trick FAQ

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1
Do you have to use a coin? No, you can use any small object that’s safe to put in your mouth. If you’d rather something like a charm or a piece of candy, just make sure you have 2 identical pieces, so the trick looks convincing.
2
Is it safe to put a coin in your mouth? Because coins are handled and passed between people a lot, bacteria can live on a coin’s surface.^{[5]
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Research source} Avoid putting it in your mouth unless you’ve cleaned and sterilized it first. Because coins are so small, there’s also potential that you could accidentally swallow or choke on one. As a result, it’s important to be very careful if you try to perform this trick.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source

U.S. National Capital Poison Center
Independent poison control center providing resources to prevent poisonings and save lives

Go to source}
- Don’t try to do the trick alone—make sure someone else is with you, so that they can help if you accidentally start to choke on the coin.
- If you’re a kid, ask your parent for permission before trying out this trick, and only perform it with parental supervision.
3
How do you clean coins before putting them in your mouth? Clean coins with an antibacterial dish soap and a soft toothbrush. Use hot water and scrub the surface clean to remove any dirt and grime. Then rinse the coins off.^{[7]
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- You can also kill germs by using boiling water or wiping them down with alcohol pads.^{[8]
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  Trustworthy Source
  
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  
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How do you stop the coin from making noise when it drops? McDonough says, “if you need misdirection, you need to raise your voice.”^{[9]
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Expert Source

Barry McDonough
Professional Magician

Expert Interview} Try making a loud noise or pointing something out across the room so everyone is distracted while the coin falls.

Section 3 of 4:

Expert Advice for Performing Magic

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McDonough recommends, “the best way to do it is to dedicate a certain amount of time, say, half an hour each day, and work on one particular sleight that you want to accomplish.” He says to repeat it and slow it down, and it will eventually become muscle memory.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Barry McDonough
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}
Martinez mentions, “The key is to create an experience for the audience,” such as getting them involved in the trick, making it funny, or telling a story about yourself. Even if you’re only performing a 30-second trick, connecting with your audience will make it more impactful and memorable.^{[11]
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Expert Source

David Martinez
Professional Magician

Expert Interview}
Martinez goes on to say, “Make the magic connect with them on a level beyond just trying to figure out the secret.”^{[12]
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Expert Source

David Martinez
Professional Magician

Expert Interview} In other words, engage with your audience and so they’re having fun as you’re performing, so they won’t spend time wondering how you did the trick.

Section 4 of 4:

Other Simple Magic Tricks to Try

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Impress your friends by learning even more tricks. There are tons of sleight-of-hand tricks that you can pull off with just a little bit of practice. Whether you want to make a coin vanish, guess someone’s card correctly, or even levitate, check out our other magic guides to find your next trick!

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Try filming yourself while practicing or doing the trick in front of a mirror before performing it for an audience.

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Warnings

Small items like coins are choking hazards, so be very careful if you decide to try this trick. Make sure someone is with you, and ask for a parent’s permission if you’re a kid.

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