J. & E. Stevens 19th "Tammany Bank" Cast Iron Bank

Updated August 18, 2026

Late 19th-century American cast-iron mechanical coin bank attributed to J. & E. Stevens Co. of Cromwell, Connecticut, in the well-known “Tammany Bank” form, depicting a seated, portly gentleman or politician dressed in a formal coat and vest and seated in an elaborately cast chair. The design was patented in the 1870s and operates by placing a coin in the raised hand, causing the arm to move and deposit the coin into the figure while the head nods in acknowledgment, a clever mechanical action that made the model one of the enduring classics of American cast-iron toy production. Period examples are associated with John D. Hall’s design and were produced by J. & E. Stevens during the last quarter of the 19th century. This example retains traces of its original painted surface, particularly flesh tones to the face and muted color beneath the darkened, oxidized finish, with pierced ornamental panels to the chair and the original-style hinged and screwed access plate visible underneath. Condition is notably aged and unrestored, with extensive paint loss, oxidation and surface rust, accumulated grime, abrasions and general wear throughout; the mechanical action has not been tested and completeness of the internal mechanism is not guaranteed. Comparable Tammany banks remain actively collected, with recent auction examples commonly estimated in the low-to-mid hundreds depending heavily upon originality, paint retention, completeness and working condition. Measures 6"H x 3"W x 4.5"D

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