Money boxes, money safes, and mechanical banks have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Here is a brief overview of their evolution. The concept of money boxes can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were used to store coins and other small valuables. In the Middle Ages, money boxes became more common, often taking the form of ceramic or wooden vessels with a slot or hole for inserting coins. In the 18th and 19th centuries, metal money boxes became popular, often shaped like animals or other whimsical objects.

Mechanical banks, which are designed to accept coins and then perform some sort of action, were first introduced in the 19th century. Some of the earliest examples were simple boxes with a lever that would trigger a mechanism to move a figure or object. As technology advanced, mechanical banks became more elaborate, featuring intricate designs and more...

63 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Vintage 'Black Boy' cast iron money box marked verso.

Vintage 'Black Boy' cast iron money box marked verso.

A 'Little Joe' cast iron money box, early 20th century, a lever…

A 'Little Joe' cast iron money box, early 20th century, a lever operated figure in painted colours, raised mark to reverse, Little Joe Bank, 14 cm high

Little Joe American cast iron painted novelty money box, late…

Little Joe Cast Iron Money Box, Late 19th Century

Little Joe American cast iron painted novelty money box, late 19th century.

'Little Joe Bank' American painted cast iron novelty money bank,…

Late 19th Century Little Joe Cast Iron Money Bank

'Little Joe Bank' American painted cast iron novelty money bank, late 19th century, 14 cm high,

Three cast metal money boxes, including Golden Fleece, radiator,…

Assorted Cast Metal Money Boxes, 20th Century

Three cast metal money boxes, including Golden Fleece, radiator, and Little Joe, 20th century. The largest 17 cm high.

Little Joe American antique cast iron money box, late 19th…

Late 19th Century Little Joe Cast Iron Money Box

Little Joe American antique cast iron money box, late 19th century, 14 cm high

Little Joe American cast iron painted novelty money box, late…

Little Joe Money Box - 19th Century Cast Iron Novelty

Little Joe American cast iron painted novelty money box, late 19th century. 14 cm high.

An American style cast iron money box emblazoned 'The Jolly…

"The Jolly Nigger Bank" Cast Iron Money Box

An American style cast iron money box emblazoned 'The Jolly Nigger Bank', 21 cm high

A Greedy Boy money box green jacket with white collar and…

Greedy Boy Money Box by H.C.U. Ltd

A Greedy Boy money box green jacket with white collar and yellow tie, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch. Original base, height 16 cm.

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar and…

Greedy Boy Money Box

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar and green tie, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch. Height 16 cm.

A Greedy Boy money box, blue jacket with white collar and green…

Greedy Boy Money Box

A Greedy Boy money box, blue jacket with white collar and green tie, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch. Height 16 cm.

Cast iron Afro-American novelty moneybox 17 cm high approx,…

Vintage Cast Iron Black Americana Moneybox

Cast iron Afro-American novelty moneybox 17 cm high approx, bottom cover missing

A greedy boy money box, green jacket, as above.

Green Jacket Boy Money Box: A Greedy Delight

A greedy boy money box, green jacket, as above.

A greedy boy money box, red jacket, manufactured in cast…

H.C. Urlwin's Greedy Boy Money Box

A greedy boy money box, red jacket, manufactured in cast aluminium by H.C. Urlwin, Christchurch.

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium, UK manufacture, height…

UK Made Greedy Boy Money Box - 16cm Height

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium, UK manufacture, height 16 cm.

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium, UK manufacture, height…

UK-made Greedy Boy Money Box - 16cm Height

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium, UK manufacture, height 16 cm.

A Greedy Boy money box, red jacket with brown collar and green…

Greedy Boy Money Box in Unique Colors

A Greedy Boy money box, red jacket with brown collar and green tie (unusual combination), cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A Greedy Boy money box, cast iron, manufactured in the USA.

USA-Made Greedy Boy Cast Iron Money Box

A Greedy Boy money box, cast iron, manufactured in the USA.

A Greedy Boy money box, blue jacket with red spotted collar,…

Rare Greedy Boy Money Box with Unique Style

A Greedy Boy money box, blue jacket with red spotted collar, white tie (rare combination), cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar, cast…

Greedy Boy Money Box

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm.

Two Jolly Nigger mechanical banks, painted cast iron, 16 cm high

"Jolly Nigger" Mechanical Banks (Cast Iron, Painted, 16 cm)

Two Jolly Nigger mechanical banks, painted cast iron, 16 cm high

Four mechanical bank money boxes Jolly Nigger and Dinah,…

Mechanical Bank Money Boxes: Jolly Nigger and Dinah

Four mechanical bank money boxes Jolly Nigger and Dinah, painted cast iron, the tallest 19 cm high

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with red collar, cast…

Greedy Boy Money Box by H.C.U. Ltd

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with red collar, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with cream collar, cast…

Greedy Boy Money Box by H.C.U. Ltd

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with cream collar, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar, cast…

Greedy Boy Money Box by H.C.U. Ltd

A Greedy Boy money box, green jacket with white collar, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A Greedy Boy money box, red jacket with pink collar, cast…

Greedy Boy Money Box

A Greedy Boy money box, red jacket with pink collar, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

A cast iron 'Greedy Boy' money bank, with red collared green…

Distressed Greedy Boy Cast Iron Money Bank

A cast iron 'Greedy Boy' money bank, with red collared green jacket and white bow tie, some distress to paint.

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch,…

"Greedy Boy" Money Box by H.C.U. Ltd

A Greedy Boy money box, cast aluminium by H.C.U. Ltd, Ch-Ch, height 16 cm

An American 'Jolly Nigger Bank' painted cast iron money box by…

Jolly Nigger Bank Money Box

An American 'Jolly Nigger Bank' painted cast iron money box by J. & E. Stevens Co. Cromwell Conn. U.S.A. 18 cm high

Antique cast iron moneybox title 'Jolly Nigger Bank', early…

Antique Jolly Nigger Bank, 20th century

Antique cast iron moneybox title 'Jolly Nigger Bank', early 20th century, 17 cm high

Cast iron Afro-American novelty money box painted black and red…

Black and Red Cast Iron Money Box with Movable Arm

Cast iron Afro-American novelty money box painted black and red decoration, with movable arm, marked verso, height 17 cm

Cast metal Greedy boy money Bank

Greedy Boy Bank: Cast Metal Money Box

Cast metal Greedy boy money Bank

Vintage Afro-American cast metal novelty moneybox (height 17 cm…

Vintage Afro-American Cast Metal Moneybox

Vintage Afro-American cast metal novelty moneybox (height 17 cm approx).

A vintage cast iron Greedy Boy money box, red jacket, made in…

Vintage Greedy Boy Cast Iron Money Box

A vintage cast iron Greedy Boy money box, red jacket, made in England. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

A 1880's vintage black boy money box, made in the U.S. by…

Vintage Black Boy Money Box with Rare Blue Jacket

A 1880's vintage black boy money box, made in the U.S. by Shepard Hardware, with rare blue jacket with original base plate.

Vintage cast aluminium Black Boy money box, Height 15 cm

Vintage Black Boy Money Box - 15cm Height

Vintage cast aluminium Black Boy money box, Height 15 cm

An old Little Joe cast iron mechanical bank, made by John…

Antique Little Joe Mechanical Bank with Original Baseplate

An old Little Joe cast iron mechanical bank, made by John Harper Co., England, c.1910. Original baseplate in tact

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 16 cm high

Mechanical Money Box: Cast Iron Afro-American Figure

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 16 cm high

2 novelty cast iron money Banks. 'Dinah' & 'Jolly Nigger Bank.…

Vintage Cast Iron Novelty Money Banks

2 novelty cast iron money Banks. 'Dinah' & 'Jolly Nigger Bank.' H17 cm

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 16 cm high

Mechanical Money Box: Cast Iron Afro-American Figure

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 16 cm high

An Australian pottery workmans piece 'Jolly Nigger' salt glazed…

Australian Pottery Jolly Nigger Money Box

An Australian pottery workmans piece 'Jolly Nigger' salt glazed money box, late 19th/early 20th century, 17.5 cm

Cast iron Negro mechanical money box 17 cm high approx

Antique Cast Iron Negro Money Box

Cast iron Negro mechanical money box 17 cm high approx

Vintage Afro-American  mechanical money box

Mechanical Money Box for Vintage Afro-Americans

Vintage Afro-American mechanical money box

Vintage Afro-American mechanical money box, 13.5 cm high approx

Vintage Afro-American Mechanical Money Box

Vintage Afro-American mechanical money box, 13.5 cm high approx

Black boy money box, alloy

Alloy Black Boy Money Box

Black boy money box, alloy

Black boy money box, Little Joe

Little Joe's Money Box

Black boy money box, Little Joe

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Cast iron black boy money box - 16cm

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Vintage Cast Iron Black Boy Money Box

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Black boy money box, 13 cm

Black Boy Money Box - 13cm

Black boy money box, 13 cm

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Black Boy Cast Iron Money Box - 16cm

Cast iron black boy money box, 16 cm

Cast iron Negro money box

Iron Negro Money Box

Cast iron Negro money box

Cast iron Negro money box

Antique Negro Money Box

Cast iron Negro money box

Large cast iron money box, Negro man in top hat

Top Hat Money Keeper

Large cast iron money box, Negro man in top hat

New Zealand made cast iron Afro-American money box

Kiwi-made African American money box

New Zealand made cast iron Afro-American money box

Vintage Jolly black boy money box

Vintage Jolly Black Boy Coin Bank

Vintage Jolly black boy money box

A 'Jolly Nigger' mechanical money box. A 'Jolly Nigger'…

Offensive Money Box: Jolly Nigger

A 'Jolly Nigger' mechanical money box. A 'Jolly Nigger' mechanical money box

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 15 cm high

Mechanical Afro-American Money Box

Cast iron Afro-American mechanical money box, 15 cm high

A vintage N.Z. made carved aluminium 'Greedy Boy' money bank.…

Vintage Carved Aluminium 'Greedy Boy' Money Bank

A vintage N.Z. made carved aluminium 'Greedy Boy' money bank. His black painted head, red jacket with white collar and blue bow with some paint loss, impressed details to the reverse, 'Made in Christchurch,' lever operation, complete.

An Americana 'Jolly Nigger' money box, mechanical action, cast…

"Jolly Nigger" Mechanical Money Box

An Americana 'Jolly Nigger' money box, mechanical action, cast aluminium. Height 16 cm

Cast iron Afro-American money box (damaged)

Damaged cast iron Afro-American money box

Cast iron Afro-American money box (damaged)

Little Joe cast iron bank. Later version of Jolly N. R bank.…

Little Joe Cast Iron Bank

Little Joe cast iron bank. Later version of Jolly N. R bank. Height 14 cm

Vintage Jolly Nigger money box, approx. height 15 cm

Vintage Jolly Nigger Money Box (15cm)

Vintage Jolly Nigger money box, approx. height 15 cm

A 19th century cast iron 'Jolly Nigger' money box the smiling…

"Jolly Nigger" Money Box

A 19th century cast iron 'Jolly Nigger' money box the smiling figure with top hat painted traces in red & green. Patmart 4812. Height 23 cm