Character Bank Appraisal

Vintage Big Boy Character Coin Bank

This item is a vintage Big Boy character coin bank. It depicts the iconic Big Boy mascot, a smiling boy with a distinctive pompadour hairstyle, dressed in white and red checkered overalls. The figure's left arm is raised, holding a plate with a large, two-patty cheeseburger. Physical characteristics include molded plastic or ceramic construction, with painted details. The dominant colors are flesh tone for the skin, black for the hair, blue for the eyes, white for the shirt and plate, and a vibrant red and white checkerboard pattern for the overalls. The burger features shades of brown for the patties, yellow for cheese, green for lettuce, and orange/red for sauce, all on a tan bun. The figure's shoes are painted bright blue. The overall dimensions appear to be consistent with a typical small to medium-sized coin bank, likely in the range of 8-12 inches in height. Notable features include the 'BIG BOY' logo clearly visible in black capital letters on the front of his white shirt. There are no immediately visible manufacturer's marks or signatures, though these often appear on the bottom of such items. The craftsmanship appears to be mass-produced, typical for a promotional or novelty item of its era. Visible condition issues are minimal from the provided image; the paint appears largely intact with good color saturation. There may be some light surface wear or minor scuffs consistent with age and handling, such as slight loss of paint on prominent edges like the hair or fingertips, but no major chips, cracks, or repairs are apparent. The general appearance suggests a well-preserved piece for its age. Given the 'vintage' context provided, this bank likely dates from the mid-20th century, probably the 1950s to 1970s, a period when such promotional character items were highly popular. The style is distinctly mid-century Americana. Unique aspects include its direct association with a well-known American restaurant chain, making it a piece of pop culture and advertising history. Its function as a coin bank adds to its novelty and practical use.