Antique Young America Cast Iron Safe Still Bank Penny Farthing Bicycle J. & E. Stevens C. 1880s

Details

Description

This is an authentic, highly collectible Late Victorian cast iron safe still bank, universally recognized by collectors as the "Young … Read more This is an authentic, highly collectible Late Victorian cast iron safe still bank, universally recognized by collectors as the "Young America" safe bank. Produced in the United States during the 1880s, this heavy, six-sided cast iron bank features deeply molded, whimsical bas-relief pictorial panels on every vertical surface, celebrating late 19th-century American childhood and outdoor leisure.

The bank is built around an operable hinged front door that secures with a traditional key lock mechanism (key not included). The individual scenes capture distinct historical snapshots of the era:

Front Door Panel: Features the raised-relief title "YOUNG AMERICA" emblazoned across the top header. The main scene depicts a young boy proudly riding a high-wheel "Penny Farthing" bicycle down a path next to a picket fence and a stylized leafing tree, blowing a horn while a bird flies overhead.

Right Side Panel: Shows a young boy wearing a cap, running along a fence line while expertly rolling a large play hoop (hoop rolling), a classic street game of the Victorian period. A detailed birdhouse or martin box on a tall post stands prominently to the left.

Left Side Panel: Depicts a peaceful river or pond scene featuring a young boy sitting in a small rowboat, actively pulling a hooked fish out of the water using a cane pole. A charming Victorian schoolhouse or church with a cross steeple and weather vane rises in the background behind a stone retaining wall.

Back Panel: Illustrates a boy sitting atop a brick or stone wall, peering downward or talking with a seated young girl wearing a classic Victorian bustling dress, while a third standing figure in a wide-brimmed hat holds a broom or staff nearby.

Top Panel: Features an intricate, ornate geometric scrollwork and foliate pattern surrounding a centralized four-petal floral medallion. A crisp, cast-in coin slot sits near the front edge to receive pennies or nickels.

Bottom Base: Solid flat cast iron base panel resting on four integrated bracket style feet. It reveals the interior assembly structure secured via two authentic, slot-head machine screws.

The entire body is framed by geometric borders composed of alternating diamond and oval relief details. This bank stands approximately 4.5" tall, 3" wide, and 3" deep, and possesses a substantial, dense weight of 1 lb 5.2 oz. It is a premier example of American decorative social history and late-19th-century cast iron craftsmanship.

Origin & Age
Manufacturer: J. & E. Stevens Company (alternatively attributed to contemporary Victorian safe bank makers like Kenton or John Harper, though Stevens remains the primary industry reference for this specific casting series).

Geographic Origin: Cromwell, Connecticut, USA.

Production Period: Circa 1880 – 1890 (Late Victorian Era).

Material & Specifications
Material: Heavy sand-cast iron.

Dimensions: Approximately 4.5" (H) x 3" (W) x 3" (D).
Weight: 1 lb 5.2 oz (21.2 oz total).

Fasteners: Two original bottom-entry, flush-set slot-head iron machine screws.

Authenticity Assessment
Casting Texture & Quality: The panels display an incredibly crisp, distinct, and finely detailed relief definition typical of original 1880s high-grade American foundry sand molds. Modern recasts typically suffer from "mold shrinkage" and feature blurry, washed-out details, which are completely absent here.

Surface Pitting & Seams: The iron surface shows a tight, smooth, natural grain structure with zero jagged "flash lines," crude grinding wheel marks, or modern granular pitting. The interlocking corner tabs meet flush and true.

Fasteners & Patina: The two bottom assembly screws are period-correct, irregular slot-head iron screws that display oxidation matching the surrounding base plate. Furthermore, the deep oxidation across the entire exterior is a genuine, slow-growing dark brown iron patina layered with genuine oxidized gold leaf highlights, a structural surface character that cannot be artificially faked with modern chemical washes or spray-on finishes.

Reference
Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks

Author: Andy Moore & Susan Moore

Page/Reference: Documented and illustrated under the "Safe Banks - Pictorial" classifications.

Alternative Reference: Also cataloged extensively in The Official Price Guide to Antique coin Banks by Dan Morphy. See less