Antique Mechanical Tammany Bank

J. E. Stevens Co. 1873

Circa 1873: This mechanical bank portrays crooked New York politician William M. "Boss" Tweed and retainsmost of its original paint.Most early American mechanical banks were humorous in design. Others, like this one, were true social commentaries. This bank, "the Tammany Bank," became one of the most popular of all, depicting the notorious New York politician Boss Tweed accepting money, placing it in his pocket, and nodding his thanks.