Stick the needle through the cork in such a manner that the point only just protrudes, and, with a pair of pincers, cut off the head of the needle remaining above the cork.
Then, having placed the coin and cork as shown in the diagram, hit the cork vigorously with the hammer ([Fig. 1]). The needle being unable to bend in any direction owing to the cork keeping it rigid, will pierce the coin quite easily, since we know that the steel of which the needle is composed is harder than the copper of the coin.
Fig. 1.—Coin piercing extraordinary.
Fig. 2.—A match trick.
A Match Trick
Another very interesting experiment is that performed with an ordinary match, a bottle, and a coin.
Fig. 3.—Coin leaving match and dropping into the bottle.