I know many of you are curious to know the secret behind the Coin Of The Realm magic trick.
How the coin could apparently goes through the glass sheet trapped inside the box.
Like all my other exposure in magic tricks and stage illusions articles, I am going to reveal and explain how it is done.
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic trick Secrets Revealed series.
Where I answer the popular question: how are magic tricks done?
How magic tricks work, or what is the secret behind magic tricks?
The magicians refer to it as the method; the secret technique uses to create the illusion of a magical effect.
By the way, I presume not many people owned this particular magic apparatus.
Those who have this classic magic prop, I am sure they would not hem it up in the TikTok video.
The method of this magic box trick is not the same as the Ching Ling Coin Box.
Even the presentation of the act is different too.
No doubt both close-up tricks also use a steel ball to perform the solid through solid penetration effect.
The coin appears to pass through sheet of glass inside the wooden box.
The latter is a smaller square-like box, whereas the former apparatus is bigger in size and rectangular in shape.
COIN OF THE REALM BOX
Interestingly, there are folks who called this prop “Coin of the Realm Ching Ling Box” or Ching Ling Coin Box.
You can read more about this item by Owen Magic mentioned in the Magic Cafe Forums.
According to Martin’s Magic site, the first version of this box with glass magic trick was said to be released by Owen Brothers back in 1956.
This rectangular wooden box approximate dimensions are: 4 X 3 X 1 inch.
In fact, it is similar to another glass penetration trick prop called Cabala by Dave Powell, as seen below.
The Cabala effect uses a steel ball instead of a coin.
It is identical to “The Ball Through Glass” box by John Snyder, Junior.
It is said that there is a possibility this magic coin box idea was inspired by John Snyder, Junior’s The Ball Through Glass box.
You can read an old article about John Snyder Jr. published in the Popular Science Monthly September 1944.
So far, I could not find any demonstration video clip of this Coin Of The Realm trick available online.
No one has ever exposed this coin through glass box trick online or offline.
After analyzing the wooden box from various websites, I think I know the method of the trick.
Like all my other magic reveal posts, I would explain in details, and backed up with relevant pictures, an illustration and video snippets.
Coin Of The Realm Magic Trick Explained
Upon close scrutiny at the pictures of the prop, I guessed the bottom wooden panel under the glass sheet is a separate piece, and it is movable.
In other words, the Coin Of The Realm magic trick apparatus has a false bottom.
This false bottom can be slide in and out together with the glass sheet.
This is my assumption how the secret false bottom piece looks like.
Here is a cutaway illustration of the box with the false bottom out from the box.
The false bottom is almost undetectable, as it is well hidden or camouflaged next to the actual bottom of the box.
Furthermore, I think it comes with a locking mechanism.
I will explain how the trick is performed very soon.
Coin Of The Realm Magic Trick Box With False Bottom
To illustrate the false bottom, I use five different prop designs.
You need to pull out the bottom part as outlined in white color in the pictures, to let the coin to drop through.
This part is attached to the movable false bottom.
For this design by Milson-Worth, this is where I think the movable false bottom piece is attached to.
This is another design by Milson-Worth, Sun Valley, California.
Below apparatus is by Owen Magic Supreme.
The box below is by Dave Powell Magic Company.
It uses a decorative design drawn with fine line to conceal the joint between the false and the actual bottom of the box.
Here is another version by Dave Powell.
You have to slide this false bottom panel together with the glass sheet out from the box.
Then only the coin can drop through the bottom hole.
As this closeup magic trick prop can be examined by the spectator, then this false bottom panel has to firmly locked before and after the penetration trick.
Locking Mechanism
There has to be a built-in locking mechanism in the box.
After studying the pictures of the prop, I think the brass clasp knob is the key to the locking mechanism.
It works like the crown of a manual watch.
You need to pull the pin of the knob gently to unlock the false bottom piece.
After the trick, you slide back the false bottom, and push the pin back in its original position to lock it.
How To Perform This Magic Trick
I think this is how to perform this coin through glass trick.
You need to use a simple misdirection technique when doing the act.
To avoid the spectator caught sight of the false bottom panel protruding out from the box, you need to raise the prop to the spectator’s eye-level.
I think the beveled box lid (raised sloping edge) is not the prop design feature.
The raised lid is meant to hide the false bottom panel when it is slide out from the box during the trick.
If you want to perform this trick at the table, then have your spectator seated.
First let him examine the box and the glass sheet.
Then give the spectator the coin to distract him for a moment; telling him to make sure that it is not one of those gaffed coins (shell coin or folding coin).
While he is distracted, you unlock the false bottom piece by lightly pulling out the clasp knob with your right hand.
Now rest both your elbows on the table, as you hold up the box at their eye-level.
Tell him to place the coin into the slot of the lid, and then get him to cup both his hands and place them under the box which you are holding.
To misdirect him again, instruct him to mentally concentrate hard on the coin.
Slowly you slide out the false bottom panel with both your thumbs, until coin drops through the bottom slot and lands on his cupped hands.
As he catches the falling coin, you quickly slide back the false bottom panel.
Aand your right hand pushes in the clasp knob to lock it.
Now open the box to show the glass sheet is still inside, and let him it again.
While I was still writing this post, I came across a used Coin Of The Realm apparatus selling in eBay.
Surprisingly, it appears my opinion of the method of this trick is correct.
You can see from the picture below, the piece as indicated is a separate unit.
This must be the false bottom where it can be pulled out to let the coin drop through.
UPDATED: August 2024:
Recently again I came across another the Real Of The Coin magic box in the eBay listings.
This time you can see from the picture, the prop is uncannily similar to my rough illustration above.
Finally I can safely conclude my assumption how this magic trick works is definitely correct.
UPDATED: January 2025
This is a new version of the “Coin Of The Realm” called “Intangibility by Damir Djanis, which I have also revealed and explained how it works.