-U. S. Post Office Box- still bank c. 20th century

This “U.S. Post Office Box” still bank, of unknown origin, presents us with a curious juxtaposition of security and everyday life. The lock, with its dial reminiscent of a safe, invites contemplation on the nature of value and trust. Consider how the motif of the lock, originally a symbol of protection in ancient Egyptian tombs, evolved through medieval reliquaries safeguarding sacred relics. Now, it reappears on a humble coin bank. This transformation reflects our shifting anxieties: from eternal preservation to the security of personal savings. The numbers suggest not just an address, but a personal identity, evoking both safety and the potential for loss. The act of saving, of securing a future, taps into a deep-seated human drive, an almost instinctual need to prepare for the unknown. This small box, then, is more than a container for coins; it is a vessel of hope and fear, a physical manifestation of our complex relationship with the future.