Recently, I was reading in an older book about a routine that used an Okito box that held 6 coins. Was this a common thing back in the 60s, or was it just a peculiar routine done by this person? It’s in the Ken Brooke book.

I have an okito box (Morrissey) that I believe holds 8 or 9 half dollars.

Not sure if this helps other than suggest 4 wasn’t always the only option.

The Okito Boxes sold in the UK during the 1960's (and 1970's) could generally take 6 of the older Copper British Pennies quite easily. Although the Penny is a large coin, they are thinner and lighter, than a Half Dollar.

If the Ken Brooke routine you refer to is 'Tea For Two', it is described using 6 coins and a Boston Box (albeit 6 coins aren't vital to the routine). However, the Boston Boxes of that era had a similar depth to the Okito version.

Back in the 1970s there were two styles. The o-kort-o set were brass, had thicker rims and held four half dollars. The older style was as pictured on the cover of the Bey book, was copper, with a hole in top and bottom the diameter of a hat pin.

Have a look at the photos in David Roth’s New Stars of Magic booklet.

I just came across a gorgeous 3 dollar Okito box.

Click here to view attached image.