The coil was made from the red feathers of the small scarlet honey eater (Myzomela Cardinalis). Only the feathers of the breast, head and back of the bird are used. Each coil is two inches wide and about 30 feet long with red feathers on only one side. A considerable part of the 30 feet consists of two bark rings and twine connecting the rings with the feather strip. A coil takes about one years labor by three specialists to make. It takes about 1,500 platelets to make one coil, and one scarlet honey eater produces five platelets. A coil requires a minimum of 300 scarlet honey eater birds. In 1962, there were only five men on Santa Cruz who could bind currency. A person may learn this skill only if his father was also a currency binder. The binder needs the inheritance of magic secrets; an unauthorized person making his own currency risks the anger of spirits. This is a 12 piece of a feather coil. It was also used as money just as the whole coil was used.