American Gods

Coins appear throughout American Gods, from the first chapter to the final epilogue. Often, they pass through Shadow’s fingers as he performs and perfects a series of sleight-of-hand illusions. Shadow can make the coins disappear and reappear by slipping them in and out of his fingers with a practiced delicacy. These tricks can often fool people into thinking he can perform real magic, even though he is a rational person who insists that he is not superstitious. Shadow’s coin tricks allow him to pass the time and distract from the world around him. Whether he is in prison or mourning the death of his wife, practicing the coin tricks becomes a ritual of self-distraction and allows him to direct his thoughts elsewhere. As Shadow becomes embroiled in Wednesday’s scheme, however, this comforting distraction becomes a symbol of his rapidly changing world. Shadow’s tricks are not real magic. When Shadow meets Mad Sweeney and Zorya Polunochnaya, however, he is shown coin tricks that he cannot rationally explain. These examples of actual magic involving coins symbolize the growing confusion in Shadow’s life. The coin tricks are less of a comfort and more of a demonstration that he is not quite as sure of the world around him as he was before.