There is a similar trick with a chess board.
A man does a very heroic deed and the king wants to repay him, he offers him diamonds, Jewels or land.
But the man refuses and says I would like you to place 1 gold coin on the first square of the chess board, 2 on the second square, 4 or the third etc. So the king sends for a chess board and a bag of gold from his cellars.
Soon the bag is empty and the king sends for more gold.
Even with all the gold in his land the king cannot fill the chess board.