Mercedes Talma was part of one of the most successful magic trios of the early 20th century, The Comedians de Mephisto Co., also known as LeRoy, Talma and Bosco. With her husband, Servais LeRoy, she presented many innovative stage illusions including Asrah, a levitation effect which ended with the assistant vanishing in mid-air. Talma was also a highly skilled sleight-of-hand performer and was known as the ‘Queen of Coins’. Here she presents her coin magic to the Penny Magazine, plucking coins from thin air, recounting anecdotes from her performances and revealing the secrets of her palming techniques, such as palming an astonishing 30 coins at one time.