Offered here is an excellent all‑original example of the Frog on Round Base Mechanical Bank, patented August 20, 1872 and designed by Russell Frisbie for the famed J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut—America’s most influential 19th‑century mechanical bank manufacturer. Produced in numerous color combinations, this popular cast‑iron bank features a green frog perched on a round green‑and‑white base accented with red highlights, a classic Stevens palette of the early 1870s.
Measuring approximately 4½" x 4½", this example retains 100% original paint with no touch‑ups, and shows no chips, cracks, or repairs, making it a standout for collectors who value untouched surfaces. The action is simple and charming: place a coin before the frog, activate the lever, and the frog snaps it into the bank—one of Stevens’ earliest and most beloved mechanical designs.
Early Stevens banks in original condition continue to grow in desirability, and this 1872 Frog on Round Base is a particularly attractive specimen. A fine addition to any advanced collection of antique mechanical banks or 19th‑century American toys.
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