Freedman’s Savings Bank

A Jerome Secor mechanical “Freedman’s Savings & Trust Company” bank made about 1880 sold at a Bertoia auction in 2018 for $132,000. It is a wooden bank with a cloth black man depositing money. Only about 10 of these banks are known to exist.    

Vintage Mechanical Banks: Moving Experiences 

Cast-iron mechanical banks with moving animals, characters and historical figures first appeared in 1870 as a way to encourage children to save money. A recent sale at Donley Auctions in Illinois featured a single collection of rare mechanical banks. The most expensive was a Circus bank made in 1888 that auctioned for $5,605. It features […]