Mechanical Coin Bank 1871 Stevens

I acquired this piece two weeks ago and have done some internet research trying to learn what it is.  This piece was gifted to me by an elderly woman who collects bottles for recycling money, as her thanks for our restaurant's bottles.  Every night, we always leave our pizzeria's beer and wine bottles in a bin on the curb for her instead of throwing them in the big recycling dumpster.  She liked how this piece looked and gave it to me as a gift. She told me she found it during her bottle-collecting in town, but could tell me no more about it.

This appears to be an 1870s J.& E. Stevens mechanical horse race coin bank.   I know that there are reproductions out there, so I've looked hard all over the piece for a "CHINA" or "TAIWAN" stamp.  I cannot find any sign that this is a reproduction.  The quality of the painting is excellent, with lots of detail that appears authentic, and the paint is intact throughout the piece.  It is very heavy and appears to be made of cast iron.

However, the piece is broken:  the circular top is broken/detached. On one side, one of the side "houses" that the horses race through is cleanly broken.  On the other side, half of the house is missing.  See pictures for more detail.

I am no expert in antiques of any kind, and would really appreciate an expert opinion on the value and authenticity of this item, and how/where to sell it.  I don't know how to proceed if this is in fact a valuable piece.

Thank you!

Lorenzo

Fair