Monkey and Coconut Mechanical Bank with Red Base

Circa 1891: Designed by Philadelphia's James H. Bowen and manufactured by The J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the charming and relatively scarce Monkey and Coconut mechanical bank is noted for the monkey's unusually realistic portrayal in an era when most banks presented stereotypical or cartoonish visions of their subjects. To operate the bank, place a coin in the money's hand. When the lever is pressed, the monkey will open the cococnut as the coin falls into the coconut and the monkeys eyes move and its mouth opens. This version of the bank with the attractive red base is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs, retains 80-85 percent of its orginal paint with no touch-ups or overpainting.