Dime Register Bank Appraisal

Popeye Dime Register Bank

This item is a vintage Popeye Dime Register Bank, likely constructed from lithographed tinplate. It has a generally square shape with gently rounded corners, typical of early 20th-century tin toys and banks. The dominant colors on the face are white, red, and blue, depicting the iconic cartoon character Popeye the Sailor man, wearing his classic sailor uniform with a blue top and white-and-red striped cuffs, and his pipe in his mouth. Popeye is shown holding a dime, preparing to deposit it into a mechanism that also displays a '0.00' counter for 'DEPOSITS'. The bank features text that reads 'POP EYE' at the top, 'DIME' and 'REGISTER BANK' below Popeye, and a clear copyright marking 'COPR KING FEAT. SYND 1929' at the bottom, indicating its likely period of manufacture. The bank appears to be in used, vintage condition, exhibiting some wear and minor discoloration consistent with age. There are visible scuffs, particularly along the edges and corners, and some minor loss of lithography on the surface. The tin material shows some gentle tarnishing or patina, but the overall image remains largely intact and vibrant. There are no obvious signs of major denting, creasing, or significant rust, suggesting it has been reasonably well-preserved. The craftsmanship indicates mass production through lithography on metal, common for children's banks and novelty items of that era. Its unique aspect lies in its direct association with a popular cultural icon, Popeye, and its function as a 'register bank' designed to track deposits, adding an educational element to the toy.