Learn Coin Magic Tricks > The Coin of Mercury

The Coin of Mercury

To perform this trick you require two tumblers, whose inside diameter at the bottom is the same as the coin to be used, a jug of water, a glass disc that fits nicely into the bottom of the tumbler, a-sheet of newspaper, a book about the size of a small dictionary, and the piece of apparatus illustrated below. Show the tumblers and fill them with water to show entire absence of preparation ; empty the water out and give them for examination. As you walk back to the table palm the glass disc. Now borrow a coin from the audience and insist on its being marked. Place it inside a handkerchief, but as you do so change it for the glass disc, request a volunteer to hold it over one of the tumblers and at your command to drop it in ; he does so, and the sound of the falling glass exactly resembles that of a coin. Attached to the back, of the book is the apparatus mentioned above. Unperceived drop the coin into the fake.
Next pick up the book and carelessly run over the leaves, taking care, however, not to pull the thread accidentally-the best way being to hold the pin in place with your finger. Next place the book on the table, and set the second tumbler upon it. Your pretence of desiring to cut off all communication gives you an excuse to form a cone of the newspaper, with which you cover the glass, taking care, however; that the cone overlaps book and fake, thus allowing room for the coin to fly into the glass. Experience will teach the correct position, which you will understand is very important. Having done this you may now announce that you will. cause the marked coin to leave the tumbler held by the gentleman in the audience, and pass into the glass standing on the book. While you are talking, secure the thread. A slight pull releases the spring, and the coin is thrown into the air and falls into the tumbler.
Uncover glass held by gentleman and show that coin has vanished. The previous wetting was done for a purpose, as the glass disc is thereby caused to adhere to the bottom of the tumbler, thus enabling it to be turned upside down. Next remove paper cone from tumbler on book, and to the astonishment of the audience they behold the marked coin. Palm off the fake and give the book for examination. With attention to details, and careful working, this has a startling
effect.

Fig. 85 is the fake proper, with two tiny hooks to- attach same to book. Figs. 86 and 87 show side and front views, respectively, of fake with coin in place, spring pressed down and held in position by tiny pin. Fig. 88 shows entire working of trick, and imaginary flight of coin, after thread is pulled to release the spring.