Fun Old and New Mechanical Coin Banks

I saw my first mechanical coin bank in action when I was 5 years old. A neighbor kept his trick dog bank on the fireplace mantle. He was the father of one of my first friends, and he offered us each a coin when I visited. We put the coin in the dog's mouth, flicked the "magic" switch, and watched in delight as the dog jumped through the clown's hoop and dropped the coin in the barrel.

Ever since then, I have turned up my nose at the pedestrian piggy bank. If I was going to save money, something needed to jump, twist, twirl or hop my coins into a cast iron vault. As I grew older, I learned that the original antique mechanical banks sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars. But reproduction mechanical banks can generally be had for $25 to $50. I bought my first trick dog mechanical bank many years ago for $10.

The reproductions are just as entertaining as the antiques. And aren't banks about saving money anyway? So here are my favorite mechanical banks. Some are cast iron reproductions, some are wind-up tin, and some are modern plastic and battery operated . They make great Christmas and birthday gifts for kids of all ages - especially for me... Are you reading this hubby? daughter?