Vintage Money Boxes: What Makes Them Collectable?

A miniature bus on a shelf can tell a surprisingly rich story. The coin slot in the roof reveals its purpose: it was made to hold savings. Bank names, colours and advertising turn these money boxes into reminders of childhood and distinctive advertising collectables.

Saving as part of childhood

Organised saving among children became widespread in Norway after the Second World War. The museum exhibition Korn til cash records around 200 savings banks running school savings schemes in 1950. More than 130,000 pupils deposited NOK 6.4 million that year.

Advertising money boxes bring together saving habits and brand history. The words Barnas Bank, meaning children's bank, on the Oslo Sparebank buses connect them with childhood saving. The Romerike example carries a bus operator's name and RBT logo. Read the story of the three buses that arrived at OBA.

Look beyond the bank's name

Start with the coin slot, base cover, lock, wheels and markings. Compare the body, window frames and decoration with documented models. Our listings compare the three buses with Tekno Volvo models in the 850/854 family. No maker's mark is visible, so this is an attribution based on design, rather than a confirmed identification of the manufacturer.

A particular bank name or colourway may interest collectors. Scarcity needs support from catalogues, known examples or sales records. Model, decoration and surviving condition should be examined together.

Three examples from our shop

• Orange Oslo Sparebank, Barnas Bank bus: a silver-grey roof and bank advertising. Some glazing survives, with damage to the windscreen and window frame.
• Blue Oslo Sparebank, Barnas Bank bus: the same bank name in a different colourway. The window insert is missing, and the body shows wear.
• Romerike Busstrafikk bus: Hilsen fra ROMERIKE BUSSTRAFIKK, a greeting from the operator, and the RBT roof logo give it a connection to local transport history. The window insert is loose, and the roof screw covers are missing.

Our shop prices on 14 October 2026 are NOK 1,300, NOK 1,000 and NOK 1,400 respectively. These are asking prices for the illustrated examples. The individual listings show current availability and prices.

What affects collectable value?

Original paintwork and decoration, complete wheels and glazing, the correct base cover and a documented model are useful points of comparison. Our buses retain their locking base covers, but keys and lock operation have not been confirmed. These differences matter when comparing prices.

Completed sales of the same variant in comparable condition are more useful than high asking prices alone. Preserve the original finish and components, and seek advice before repainting or abrasive polishing.

Have a money box or collection to sell?

Østlandet Brukt & Antikk buys selected advertising memorabilia and collectables. Contact us with photographs and details. Our photography guide explains useful views, and you can browse available advertising collectables in our shop.

Historical source: Korn til cash, 1950, an online exhibition by Anno and SpareBank 1 Østlandet. This provides context for childhood saving; it does not date the pictured buses. Photographs and item information: Østlandet Brukt & Antikk.