Tabletop Spinning
Spinning The Coin
Description This section describes various methods for starting a coin spinning on a surface.

Two Handed Start

Start by placing the bottom edge of a coin on the table. Now place an index finger on the top edge of the coin and hold the coin in place.

Flick an edge of the coin with the index finger of the other hand, and the coin should start spinning on the table.

One Finger Start

(143k) A more efficient method that uses only one hand.

Hold the coin flatwise between the thumb and the middle finger.
  1. Place the bottom edge of the coin on the table.
  2. Place the index finger on the top edge of the coin and release the coin with the middle finger and the thumb.
  3. Now flick the edge of the coin with the middle finger.
There are some disadvantages to this method:
  • You need to rest the base of the coin on the surface on which you are spinning it. This can be a problem if the surface is slippery as the coin tends to fall over fairly easily.
  • You can only get the coin spinning anti-clockwise. This can be overcome by holding the coin with the middle finger and flicking with the index finger but this is even more awkward.

Thumb Start

This methods involves holding the coin in two fingers and flicking it with the thumb.

Hold the coin flatwise by an edge, between the index and middle fingers. The coin should be extending on the palm side of the hand. Hold the hand with the fingers pointing down toward the surface on which you want to spin the coin.

Flick the coin (on the opposite edge from where you hold it) with the thumb (by flicking off the ring finger). The coin should fly off and land on the surface spinning.

The method is slower and harder to control than the method described below, but it is good because you can get the coin to fly a fair way from your hand before it lands, without moving the hand.

Two Finger Start
The problem with the previous methods is that they are slow and it is hard to control the resulting motion of the coin.
This variation is the best one that I have found. It is fast and provides good control.

Hold the hand out flat, palm up. Balance the coin flatwise with its middle over the third phalanx of the middle finger. Now grab the edges of the coin with the inner sides of the index and ring fingers.

Place the outer edge of the coin on the table (the coin should be perpendicular to the table with the fingers pointing down) and quickly pull back with the index finger and push forwards with the ring finger. The coin should now be spinning.

I find this method to be the best. With this method it is also easier to control the motion of the spinning coin. The only disadvantage with this method is that it is harder to get the coin spinning in the opposite direction.

Another good thing about this method is that the spin can be generated without having a surface to start on. You can toss a coin onto the table from a distance and it will land spinning. You can toss it up and catch it on a book, etc.