The coin mechanism on a toy crane machine is typically fully functional and serves as the primary method of payment to play the game. Unlike purely decorative props, these coin slots and bill validators are engineered components designed to accept currency, validate its authenticity, and trigger the game's control system. When a coin or token is inserted, it completes an electrical circuit or is detected by a sensor, which then credits the player with a set number of attempts to operate the claw. This mechanism is central to the commercial operation of arcade-style crane games found in family entertainment centers, restaurants, and arcades. While some very inexpensive, personal-use toy cranes might have a pretend coin slot for imaginative play, the vast majority in public settings feature real, working coin mechanisms essential for their business model. The system ensures that each play session is initiated by a payment, making it a critical and genuine functional part of the machine's design.