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Museum object · Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Coin bank in the form of a caricatured boy

late 19th-early 20th century

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Cast iron coin bank in the form of a bust of a caricatured boy. The boy is wearing a red shirt, with white collar and black bow tie. Mouth of boy is painted red with white teeth. The boy’s eyes are painted white with black dots at the center. Bank is made of two halves put together, with a vertical seam running down the sides of the bank. Raised lettering on the back of the bank reads, [THE / YOUNG NIGGER / BANK]. The bank of the boy's head has a small horizontal slot for inserting coins. There are five holes on bottom of bank. There is one dime is in the bank.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2007.7.218

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