In the fairest manner possible, ten half dollars are counted onto the left palm which is covered with a handkerchief. A spectator holds the four corners while ten more coins are counted onto a tray and dumped into the cupped hands of another. The first spectator shakes the handkerchief a selected number of times, and that number of coins travel across space to the hands of the other.
Mr Fischer’s subtlety in handling the first ten coins is the basic principle of the feat. The rest can be varied to suit individual taste. On a small stand, like the one illustrated here, are ten coins in a row. A duplicate of this may be at the other side of the stage or room. On the rear side of coins number 7, 8, 9 and 10 put a tiny dab of diachylon plaster or good sticking wax.
Spread a handkerchief over the left palm, and count the coins, piece by piece, starting with number 1, into a stack on the palm. Now turn the left hand over, grasping the stack tightly in the fingers while the right hand apparently evens up the four hanging corners of the handkerchief. This action of squeezing the stack in the turnover makes a solid and stuck together pile of coins 6 to 10, and it drops silently into the right hand underneath as the performer steps towards the spectator who holds the four ends with the coins hanging downward. This pile is pocketed or dropped into a well in the action of picking up a tray from the table and onto which the second ten coins are counted. This tray is the well known money tray, and is loaded with five coins. Dumping the ten counted coins into the hands of another adds the five and the mechanical details of the trick are over.
Mr Fischer suggests that those experienced in the manipulation of coins may prefer securing five coins and making them appear singly and audibly in a goblet by the often published sleight of hand method. The number of coins to be passed is immaterial and may be left up to the performer. He can also make a certain number travel or force the number as desired.
The feature of this effect is Mr Fischer’s clever method for noiselessly stealing the coins at the start.
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