-Betsy Ross Bicentennial Bank- mechanical bank 1976

"Betsy Ross Bicentennial Bank," a cast iron mechanical bank by Al Davidson, was created in 1976 to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States. This whimsical piece depicts Betsy Ross, a famed American seamstress, seated and holding a large American flag with thirteen stars. The bank's intricate design and engaging mechanism reflect the popular interest in Americana during the bicentennial period. Mechanical banks, a popular form of folk art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, became treasured collectibles. This particular bank is an example of the resurgence of this genre in the 1970s.