Why are so many coin banks shaped like pigs?

Answer 1

Hang on, 'cause this is a long, bumpy ride through WordLand.

First thing we gotta cover is the Great Vowel Shift, which occurred in English back betweeen Chaucer and Shakespeare, when sounds began moving forward in the mouth. "Meat" used to be pronounced more like "mate." Make the sounds, and you'll see how most older pronunciations were formed further back in the mouth. Go way, way, back, "y" was the Greek "u", and pronounced as such. Clytemnestra was originally said "Klootahmnayster", but the sound evolved over time, passing through "uh" to short "i" to the two variants of long "i": the "ee" sound we see in "slowly," and the "eye" sound we see in "electrolyte."

Going way, way back, there was a word in English, "pygg," which referred to a certain clay. It was used for making all kinds of household objects, including things for storing money. At the time the barbaric Saxons learned to write, "pygg" was probably pronounced to rhyme with "pug," but as the pronunciation of "y" changed, "pygg" came to be pronounced about like "pig," and the banks were shaped like pigs as a joke, or because of confusion of the meaning.

According to Charles Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, people were saving money in kitchen pots and jars made of pygg, called "pygg jars"... and by the 18th Century, pygg jar had become pig bank, potters simply casting the bank in the shape of its common, everyday name.

By the way, clay bottles filled with hot water are still used as bed-warmers in parts of Britain, and are called "pigs" or "china pigs"; Eric Bogle did a song about them. They, too, are often shaped like pigs as a visual pun.

Answer 2

Because someone made a mistake. During The Middle Ages, in about the fifteenth century, metal was expensive and seldom used for household wares. Instead, dishes and pots were made of an economical clay called pygg. Whenever housewives could save an extra coin, they dropped it into one of their clay jars.They called this their pygg bank or their pyggy bank.
Over the next two hundred to three hundred years, people forgot that "pygg" referred to the earthenware material. In the nineteenth century when English potters received requests for piggy banks, they produced banks shaped like a pig. Of course, the pigs appealed to the customers and delighted the children.

Answer 3

During The Middle Ages, in about the fifteenth century, metal was expensive and seldom used for household wares. Instead, dishes and pots were made of an economical clay called pygg. Whenever housewives could save an extra coin, they dropped it into one of their clay jars.They called this their pygg bank or their piggy bank.
Over the next two hundred to three hundred years, people forgot that "pygg" referred to the earthenware material. In the nineteenth century when English potters received requests for piggy banks, they produced banks shaped like a pig. Of course, the pigs appealed to the customers and delighted the children.

Answer 4

In my youth in the UK they were called Money Boxes I never used the term piggy bank until I came out to Canada

Answer 5

Have you ever watched a bunch of pigs have breakfast? They eat as fast as they can. That's what financiers hope their children will do with their penny-money, save it as fast as they can...I guess!

The banks were kinda' cute in the past...

Answer 6

In Middle English, "pygg" referred to a type of clay used for making various household objects such as jars. People often saved money in kitchen pots and jars made of pygg, called "pygg jars".By the 18th Century, the spelling of "pygg" had changed and the term "pygg jar" had evolved to "pig bank."

Answer 7

I guess that it is because some people act like pigs when it comes to money

Answer 8

Bam 55 is right! I forgot all about that in my Anthropology and Archeology classes. Thanks Bam!
Thank you sir for posting this question I even starred it1 My children are going to love to know the origin of the "Piggy bank".

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure it's because pigs are supposed to symbolize money. Maybe just because they're cute?

Answer 10

Great question!!! (I never wondered but now I am)!
I wonder if it has to do with the farmers attempting to fatten up their pigs before slaughtering.