A Banthrico Capital Savings coin bank is a vintage, cast-metal promotional piggy bank shaped like a capitol building or marked for a savings institution, manufactured by Banthrico Inc. out of Chicago.
Overview of Banthrico Banks
- Company Background: Banthrico (short for Banker’s Thrift Corporation) operated from 1931 until 1985 in Chicago, Illinois.
- Materials: They were cast using a zinc-based white metal alloy (pot metal) and given a bronze, brass, or copper-toned electroplated finish.
- Purpose: Financial institutions and savings banks ordered these miniature architectural or historical models to hand out as promotional items to encourage saving.
- Architecture: The "Capital Savings" variants often feature detailed miniature metal models of state capitol buildings (such as the Washington State Capitol in Olympia) or classical facades.
- Markings: They typically feature a raised or stamped plate on the back or bottom reading "Banthrico Inc., Chicago, U.S.A." alongside the name of the specific savings bank or association.
- Collectibility: Today, these heavy, detailed metal banks are sought-after vintage Americana and antique collectibles.