Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

As the student has so successfully guessed all this, it would be an impertinence on our part to further explain the trick. THE WANDERING SIXPENCE.--Have ready two sixpences, each slightly waxed on one side. Borrow a sixpence, and secretly exchange it for one of the waxed ones, laying the latter, waxed side uppermost, on the table. Let any one draw two cards from any ordinary pack. Take them in the left hand, and, transferring them to the right, press the second waxed sixpence against the centre of the undermost, to which it will adhere. Lay this card (which we will call a) on the table, about eighteen inches from the sixpence which is already there, and cover that sixpence with the other card, b. Lift both cards a little way from the table, to show that the sixpence is under card a, and that there is apparently nothing under card b. As you replace them, press lightly on the centre of card a. You may now make the sixpence appear under whichever card you like, remembering that, if you wish the sixpence not to adhere, you must bend the card slightly upwards in taking it from the table; if otherwise, take it up without bending.