gold? or just old?
The Amazing Appraising of Terry Sonntag
an original antique bank and This sword has no inscription n today’s financial cli- Whale.” Mechanical banks,
was in excellent condition, it or dates. I noticed that there
mate it’s helpful to find (those with a mechanical
construction device to shoot
could sell for several thousand were no manufacturer mark-
value wherever we can.
or drop the coin), and still
dollars. Early mechanical ings, numbers or insignia indi-
ISo, open the closet and
banks, (those with a slot
banks of low production cating the maker, nor inventory
see if you’ve got more than
only), have been manufac-
have sold in the mid to high numbers indicating military
just skeletons in there. Noted
tured for well over 100 years
issue. The federal eagle and
thousands.
antique appraiser, Terry
in this country. They were
shield that is boldly displayed
Sonntag, can tell you whether
in cast brass on the side sup-
th
generally made of cast iron, that 20 century teapot is
painted, and would either
Cei Cei Armendarez of
ports my thought that it was
truly a treasure…or just Great
have a metal plug in the bot-
Palmdale made a special trip
designed for the U.S. Military
Grandma Kate’s kitchenware.
tom to empty out the coins or
to the Saugus SwapMeet to
market.
would be unscrewed from the
have her sword examined.
Terry Sonntag and
side to open. Smaller still
She acquired the sword from
This sword would not be
Barbara Pickett are both
banks were often called
her father in 1972 and held it
considered a fi ghting weapon.
Accredited Appraisers of
“penny banks.” This particu-
in safe keeping these many
The mother of pearl inlaid
the International Society of
lar one has been reproduced
years. Her father received it
handle is decorative and
Appraisers. They appear at
not functional. Traditionally,
for more than 60 years.
as a gift from a friend, who
the Saugus SwapMeet the
a combat sword would be
was a U.S. Military officer.
first Sunday of the month heavier and normally had
She does not know under
Matthew, your bank is a
and offer their thoughts and leather or shark skin covered
what circumstances the
modern reproduction and
grips and held in place by fi nely opinions free to paid patrons
friend acquired it, and she
probably came from China. It
twisted brass wire. I think that
of the SwapMeet. The valu-
has no information about the has a dark rusted fi nish and
in a retail setting, such as an
ations are without research
originally had been painted. friend’s military background
antique store, this would be
and should be viewed as
The rusting makes it appear to nor years of service or rank.
priced at less than $200. If
educational entertainment.
be old and is often rusted on
the sword was inscribed and
Here they share some recent
purpose to make it aged. The
Cei Cei, you have a vintage there was documentation to
findings.
quality and lack of detail in the
decorative sword that was support this, and it belonged
casting, along with the internal
probably made for American to an important military fi gure,
Matthew Evans of Canyon
Phillips head screw, clearly
Military personnel. I view it as the demand and interest in the
Country proudly presented
make this bank a modern
either a ceremonial or presen- offi cer would dictate the price
copy. The value of this bank
his cast iron mechanical
tation sword, often presented at auction or private sale to a
is decorative only and would
bank, entitled “Jonah and the
as gifts to newly appointed offi- serious collector.
be less than $25. If this was
cers or upon their retirement.
Terry Sonntag moved to the Santa
Clarita Valley in 1970. He has been
involved in the collecting, buying,
selling and trading antiques and
collectibles for over 40 years. He
was the operations director of a
large antique mall and previous
owner of the Santa Clarita Antiques
Center. He is an accredited mem-
ber of the International Society of
Appraisers and Appraisers National
Association as well as an educator
and seminar facilitator in Antiques
Appreciation. He may be contacted
at (661) 478-8935 or email at ap-
praiseold@aol.com. Visit his web
cei cei site www.appraiseold.com.
matt
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