This updated post exposed and explained comprehensively how the Ching Ling Coin Box trick is done.
I wrote this content for my readers who are curious to know the trick secret.
How the coin could apparently visually go through the piece of glass trick (actually more of a durable perspex).
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
It include images captured from various demo videos, illustrations, together with snippets clips, to reveal the trick secret.
In fact, I have already mentioned the Ching Ling Coin Box and the Coin Of The Realm briefly in the Steel Ball through Glass Revealed post.
There is another steel ball goes through thick glass trick aka U-235, which I have exposed the secret as well in my December 2023 post.
I am also including other identical magic wooden coin box tricks, which include the Trapdoor by U. F. Grant, Coin Of The Realm and the Lippincott Box.
In addition, I am also sharing resources of free magic books online.
All this is meant for people who want useful and relevant information about the world of magic tricks.
Firstly, let’s sort out the confusion over the name of this wooden magic coin box.
There are magic shop websites and the Magic Cafe Forums, where they call the Ching Ling Coin Box as the Coin Of The Realm and the Lippincott Box.
These two other boxes are different magic props, which I would elaborate more below.
TikTok Ching Ling Coin Box Videos
Have you come across the Ching Ling Coin Box Reveal and Ching Ling Coin Box Explained TikTok videos in the Google search results page?
They do not explain or reveal the trick secret, as claimed.
In other words, you could say they are not relevant and helpful content.
Basically most of these TikTok short and playful videos are merely made for fun and laughter.
Their aim is to generate viewers’ comments.
They just copied Pete Firman’s video doing the ruler through glass in box trick.
Incidentally, I have already posted the article about the ruler through box trick revealed back in September 9, 2022.
As you can see the image from a TikTok video, the accompanied illustration on the left is taken from this very blog post!
It did credited to this blog. Thanks.
The two pictures are down here.
Box With Glass Magic Trick
This original article (September 22, 2022) is the first time the secret of the Ching Ling Coin Box was explained and revealed online.
It really revealed and explained the secret method of this pocket trick as stated in the post title.
It was almost a year later (December 16, 2023) after this post was published, there is a TikTok video that exposes it with a different prop.
Instead he uses the steel ball through glass trick box (with round holes) to reveal the secret, as seen below.
In short, there is not a single TikTok video clip really exposing or explaining the Ching Ling Coin Box secret, so to speak.
As a matter of fact, the Google search results page merely show mostly YouTube demo videos, magic store websites, an eBay listing and a Magic Cafe post.
Now, let’s find out the proper secret of the Ching Ling Box.
When I was exploring this coin box with glass magic trick, I found there are a few versions.
You can still buy them from most of the magic online stores, Amazon website and eBay as well.
First, there is this square-like wooden box which looks like the steel ball through glass prop.
But it comes with slots, instead of round holes.
Its approximate dimensions are: 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.77 inches.
This Ching Ling Coin Box also has the same features as the steel ball through glass box prop; exposed vintage hinges and clasp.
There is another similar design manufactured by David Robbins & Company (E-Z Magic), selling in Abbotts Magic Company.
Similarly, there is this Ching Ling Coin Box Deluxe listing in the eBay site and selling in Wrinkler’s Magic Warehouse.
This quality prop is made with solid teak and embellished with gleaming brass trimmings.
There is another version which is smaller in size and rectangular in shape.
Now, let’s find out the how does this magic coin box work.
Yes, how to make the coin apparently goes through the glass inside the wooden box.
If one performs this solid through solid penetration trick well, it is amazingly magical, to say the least.
Ching Ling Coin Box Secret
When I first watched this coin in the magic box demo videos, I observed closely how they handle the box and perform their acts.
I suspected the method of this penetration effect is the same as the steel ball through the glass box trick.
It uses the similar secret pivoted door, just like the Watch Box below.
Check out the Watch Box in the Professor Hoffmann‘s 1876 book “Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise On The Art Of Conjuring“ (public domain).
After this post was published, I discovered the rare Ching Ling Coin Box instructions sheet from a listing in eBay.
That conformed my speculation is correct.
You can see the original hand-drawn illustration below.
Secret Pivoted Door
The secret is a hidden pivoted door on one side of the wooden box, like the Watch Box.
To do the trick, use your thumb to press the top part of that gimmick side inward, and the door will swivel open, as illustrated below.
So this is how it looks like with the actual wooden box.
Tilt the box slightly to let the glass piece to slip out about half way through the opening into the palm of your hand.
Now the coin can penetrate through both holes without the glass obstruction.
After the trick, tilt the glass piece back into box and press the secret pivoted door to close it.
Images From Demo Videos
These are some snippets taken from the YouTube Ching Ling Coin trick demo video clips.
Let’s scrutinize how the trick is done in the video together with the accompanied images.
You can see both his thumbs pushing in the pivoted door on the side of the box, as he closes the cover at: 0:06
At 0:09, he tilts and shakes the wooden box upward, to drop the glass piece out into his left palm.
After the penetration trick, at 0:14 he spreads out his left palm as he pushes the glass piece back into the box.
Then he uses his right thumb to close back the secret pivoted door.
From this Funtime Magic video at 0:30-0:31 the performer’s right thumb together with his index finger pushing the pivoted door at the side of the box, before closing the lid.
After he has clasped the box, he discreetly tilts the box towards him.
After the act, at 0:46, his right thumb closes the pivoted door back into the box, thus pushing the glass piece back into the box.
This is another Ching Ling Box demonstration, where you can see how the trick is done.
At 0:33, his left thumb pushes down the pivoted door, just before he brings down the cover.
Then he tips the box downward to let the glass piece falls out into his palm.
To end the demo, at 0:57, his right thumb closes the pivoted door.
As a result, the door pushes the glass piece back into the box.
From this video, at 0:38 his right thumb pushes down the pivoted door to open it.
After he has closed the box, at 0:41, he tilts the box backward slightly to drop the glass piece into his hand.
At the end of the act, at 0:54 he pushes the coin to his spectator to misdirect him, while he tilts the box forward slightly.
Then he uses his right thumb to close the pivoted door.
The visual below is captured from the video called it “Melting Coin Box“.
You can see the performer using both his thumbs ready to push down the pivot door, just before he closes the box at: 0:33-0:35.
Now you know and understand how the coin visually penetrates the sheet of glass, or so it seems.
Patter And Misdirection In Magic
To perform this pocket trick convincingly, you need a bit of sleight of hand skill, together with an entertaining patter.
Patter in magic, means what you say as you perform a trick.
It can functions as a form of misdirection to distract the audience’s attention.
NOTE: Check out these free books on sleight of hand and misdirection in conjuring tricks.
Similar Magic Trick Props
Here are a few magical props which are identical to the Ching Ling Coin Box penetration
Trapdoor By U. F. Grant
The “Trapdoor” was created by the legendary magic dealer and inventor Ulysses Frederick Simpson Grant (popularly known as U. F. Grant).
Trapdoor is a slim square box with slots parallel to the hinge.
The method of the trick is also the same as the Ching Ling Coin Box.
One side of the box, it can be pushed down to let the glass piece to slide out into the palm of the hand.
This is a closeup view of the pivoted door.
Watch the U. F. Grant Trapdoor demo below:
NOTE: To get free magic books by U. F. Grant, go to free Paul Osborne Illusion Plans.
Coin Of The Realm Magic Trick
The second one is the Coin Of The Realm is like the Ching Ling Coin Box, but rectangular in shape.
The magic effect is the same, the coin goes through the sheet of glass,
As the size of the Coin Of The Realm wooden box is bigger, the method of the trick is different.
Read the full explanation how the Coin Of The Realm trick is done.
Randi Rain’s Magic Coin Box
This third design is an interesting version of the Ching Ling Coin Box by magician Randi Rain.
Her cool and rugged wooden DIY magic prop uses a gleaming brass plate instead of a glass or acrylic piece.
The method of getting the coin to penetrate the solid brass plate is the same as the Ching Ling Coin Box.
On one side of the low wooden box, is a pivoted piece.
Similarly, she presses on it, tilts the box backward to slip out the brass plate into the palm of her hand.
Watch this part of the video at 16:40, you can see the collapsible side of the box (pivoted piece) goes down briefly, as her left thumb presses on it.
To view it clearer, reduce the playback speed to 0.25.
The picture below is also captured from her video clip.
You can see the ‘missing’ pivoted piece through the slot of the box cover at 16:35.
It is ‘missing’ because it has being pushed downward, to let the brass plate to slide out.
To finish up the trick, she tips the box forward for the brass plate to drop back into it.
Magic Box By Mikame Craft Japan
There is another version of the Lippincott Box created by the late Yonezo Mikame, the founder of Mikame Craft Japan.
It is a small wooden box which is used for producing small items palmed in the hand.
Again the secret is is hidden pivoted door at one of the side of the box as shown below.
To sum it up, this is the Ching Ling Coin Box trick secret.