How to Open a Magic Art Coin Bank

A Magic Art Coin Bank consists of a piece of plastic attached to the surface of a square mirror, which is inside a plastic cube--the inside of which is lined with a repeating print pattern. The mirror's reflective surface is positioned at a 45-degree angle with the cubic container's only transparent face, dividing the inside of the cube into two equal, triangular wedges. The hidden wedge holds the coins while the transparent, exposed wedge uses the mirror's reflection to create the illusion that the embedded piece of plastic is floating in space.

Instructions

1. Turn over the bank so that the side with the coin slot is facing the ground.

2. Press against the coin slot side's surface; away from the edge of the face with the window. Only slide this side back about 1/4-inch; just enough to allow it to clear the lever-operated pins.

3. Turn the bank so that the sliding face is pointing toward the ceiling.

4. Slide this slotted face back as far as possible and pour the coins out on a table.

References

• 4 Physics: How The Flat-Mirror Ray Illusion Works