Do you know where the origin of that classic savings institution, the piggy bank, comes from?
The piggy bank has its origin in 18th century England. In the 18th century, mined metal was very hard to come by and usually reserved for the aristocratic elite. So, peasants and commoners typically made everyday household items such as bowls, cups and dishes out of a natural clay known as "pygg".
Those frugal folks that desired to save money often stored their wealth in jars or pots know as "pygg jars". Though the "pygg jar" was not originally molded in the shape of a pig, the name "pygg jar" became "pygg bank" which did eventually evolve into the shape of a pig as makers of banks began to design them to resemble their more common name, "pig bank".