The 1952 film "The Card" is a British comedy about a bright young man in early 20th century England who creates opportunities for himself, sometimes in shady ways, and becomes a wealthy man.
A "card" is a British slang term for a person who is smart or quick-witted. The film was released in the United States under the title "The Promoter."
Alec Guinness stars as Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin, the young man who engages in several businesses, all of which involve handling British coin money. He also acquires two girlfriends, one of whom is interested in coins. Several types of British coins are shown along with tokens used as prop coins.

Edward Henry Machin tells his story. He lives with his mother in the fictional English town of Bursley. He explains that "I am not dishonest, I just like to give providence a helping hand." At the start "Denry" is a student in school.

Denry notices the unoccupied room and teacher's desk and finds the scores for a scholarship examination.

His alterations to his scores wins him a scholarship to a rich boys school.
Now an adult, he has to find work, but has been told that prospective employers want references.

The wallet contains ten gold sovereigns (British gold coins) and the owner's business card.

A British gold sovereign of George V:

Gold, 22.0 mm, 8.00 gm

A sovereign is a British gold coin originally worth one pound or 20 shillings. It is the same size and weight as a United States $5 gold coin, 1/4 troy ounce.

The owner is a local lawyer and Denry takes the wallet to the owner's office and asks a clerk about a position. The clerk asks for his references and Denry shows him the wallet.

His "reference" gets him a position as a clerk in the law office.

Denry doesn't have much work to do which allows him to "design" his future.

The Countess of Chell, the leader of the town's high society, comes into the office. She is a glamorous woman and a client of the lawyer who is not in the office. Denry offers to help and she asks him to address invitations to a society dance. That evening he addresses the invitations and sends one to himself. He exchanges two more invitations, one to a tailor for evening clothes and one to a dance instructor, Ruth Earp, for dance lessons. Ruth has a friend, Nellie Cotterill, who also receives an invitation.

On the following Monday Denry is fired by the lawyer and outside runs into an woman who is a client. She is upset with the lawyer's service as a rent collector for her properties and Denry offers to collect the rents for her properties for a smaller fee. He is hired. Denry starts his career of handling coins as the rents are paid in coins.

The woman takes the rent money out of a purse.

Denry keeps his coin money in a box and his mother is surprised to see her son with so much money.

Denry starts taking Ruth out.

They decide to visit the vacation (holiday) resort of Llandudno and Nellie accompanies them.

Denry finds that he is constantly spending money on Ruth.

The top coin appears to be an English sixpence.

These coins appear to be English large copper pennies and silver half crowns.

Here we have some English half crowns including one showing Queen Victoria.

An English half crown of Queen Victoria:

Silver, 32 mm, 14.12 gm
Queen Victoria Jubilee issue for her 50 years as Queen of England

Denry brings his work home to Mother.

Mother wonders what is in it and soon finds out.

These appear to be film prop coins or some kind of token which was produced in large quantities. Several scenes of piles of coins are shown to indicate that Denry is becoming wealthy.

Next they have to be counted.

Now they are stacked for easier counting and deposit to a bank.

Denry then becomes a rent collector for another landlord and then opens a discount buying club. He is "rolling in it."

These appear to be tokens of some kind. After taking care of business, Denry has to arrange his other affairs.

Ruth finds a wealthy man to marry and Denry marries Nellie. The last scene of the film shows that Denry has entered politics and is now the mayor of Bursley.

Alec Guinness as Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin
Veronica Turleigh as Mrs. Machin (Denry's mother)
Glynis Johns as Ruth Earp
Petula Clark as Nellie Cotterill
Valerie Hobson as Countess of Chell
Director: Ronald Neame
Writers: Arnold Bennett (novel), Eric Ambler