I know many of you are curious to know the secret behind the Coin Of The Realm magic trick.
It is no secret (no pun intended), people are eager to know how magicians do their tricks.
Like all my other exposure in magic tricks and stage illusions articles, I am going to share this helpful information for people who love the art of conjuring magic tricks.
Magic trick is more than just their secrets.
Similar to good cooking, it’s not merely knowing the ingredients.
It is about creating a sense of wonder that is spellbinding or magical.
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic trick Secrets Revealed series.
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 coin to perform the solid through solid penetration effect.
The coin apparently passes 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.
If I am not wrong, no one has ever exposed this coin through glass box trick online before, be they YouTube or TikTok site.
After analyzing the wooden box from various websites, I think this is how the coin seemingly goes through the sheet of glass.
Just like all my other magic reveal posts, I would explain in details, together with supporting pictures and an illustration.
Coin Of The Realm Magic Trick Explained
Upon close scrutiny at the pictures of the prop, I suspected the bottom wooden panel under the glass sheet is a separate piece, and it is movable.
In other words, the apparatus has a false bottom, which can slide in and out together with the glass sheet from the box.
This is my assumption how the secret false bottom piece looks like.
Below 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.
Box With A 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.
NOTE: Here are free books on misdirection techniques in performing tricks.
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.
To my amazement, I came across another this coin-thru-glass magic box in the eBay listing.
As you can see from the picture, prop is uncannily similar to my illustration above.
So I can safely conclude my assumption how this magic trick works is definitely correct.
For those who are interested in this magic apparatus, I think there is one by Milton-Worth over at Trick Supply site.
Definitely you cannot do the widely-copied ruler through box trick first performed by magician Pete Firman.
RELATED MAGIC TRICK:
As this trick uses a coin, probably you would like to check out coin magic.
Basically coin magic is where the magicians use misdirection and sleight of hand to manipulate coin(s) to entertain audiences.
Generally magicians perform it as a close-up magic, table magic, and street magic.
Thomas Nelson Downs Coin Magic
When you talked about coin magic tricks, you have to know manipulative magician Thomas Nelson Downs.
He was known as “The King of Koins”.
Here are free Thomas Nelson Downs books found online.
Below are three more free books with coin magic.
Here are more three free books with magic tricks with coins.
Modern Coin Magic By J. B. Bobo
To get this classic book free online, type: Modern Coin Magic by J. B. Bobo pdf in Google search. It is also found in: Z-Library.
The Magic Art, Volume I By Donald Holmes
To find this book online, type: The Magic Art Donald Holmes pdf in Google search.
Mark Wilson’s Cyclopedia Of Magic: A Complete Course
To get this classic magic book for free online, type: Mark Wilson’s Complete Course pdf, Mark Wilson’s Complete Course epdf.pub or Mark Wilson’s Complete Course vdoc.pub in Google search. Or look for it in: PDFDrive or Z-Library.