Brandon Lee
The piggy bank, a coin container usually used by children, has a fascinating history. The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date back to the 12th century in Java, Indonesia. However, the term piggy bank and the idea of using pig-shaped containers for saving money may have different origins. One theory suggests that the name originated from an orange-coloured clay called pygg, commonly used to make storage containers for money during the Middle Ages. Over time, with changes in language, the word pygg evolved into pig, and potters started creating banks in the shape of pigs. Another theory suggests that the shape of the pig was inspired by the animal's symbolic association with fertility, frugality, and good fortune in various cultures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary | 1913 |
| Earliest known use of "pig bank" | Newspaper articles from 1900 |
| Earliest known pig-shaped money containers | 12th century on the island of Java |
| Oldest German piggy bank | 13th century |
| Oldest Western find of a money box | 2nd century BC Greek colony Priene, Asia Minor |
| Earliest known use of "pygg bank" | 18th century |
| Earliest known use of "pig" to describe general earthenware products | 1450 |
| Origin of the word "bank" | The Italian word "banco" meaning "bench" or "counter" |
| Materials piggy banks are made from | Glass, plastic, plaster |
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What You'll Learn
The piggy bank's name origin
The piggy bank is a coin container, typically used by children, with a slot at the top to insert coins or folded bank notes. The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date to the 12th century on the Indonesian island of Java. The term used in modern Indonesian, cèlèngan, means "likeness of a wild boar" but is also used to mean both "savings" and "piggy bank".
The origin of the term "piggy bank" is less clear. One theory is that the name comes from an orange-coloured clay called "pygg", from which pots and jars used to store money were made in the Middle Ages. Over time, the pronunciation of "pygg" changed from "pug" to "pig", and potters began making banks in the shape of the animal. Another theory suggests that the term "pig" was used from about 1450 to refer to general earthenware products, perhaps because some ceramic items were shaped like a pig's body.
The word "bank" in "piggy bank" also has an interesting etymology. When money first started changing hands in Northern Italy, lenders did business in open markets, working over a table or bench. The Italian word for bench or counter is "banco", from which the English word "bank" is derived.
The popularity of piggy banks may have originated in Germany, where pigs were revered as symbols of good fortune. The oldest German piggy bank dates to the 13th century and was recovered during construction work in Thuringia.
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The pig's symbolic significance
The piggy bank, a coin container usually intended for children, has a rich history and symbolic significance. The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date back to the 12th century in Java, Indonesia. The term "piggy bank" has an uncertain etymology, but its symbolic significance is rooted in cultural beliefs and values associated with pigs.
The pig has long been considered a symbol of prosperity, wealth, and luck in various cultures. In Germany, pigs were revered as symbols of good fortune, and the expression "schwein gehabt" ("got pig!") is still used to convey luck. The popularity of piggy banks in the Western world may be traced back to Germany, reinforcing the idea that pigs are associated with financial prosperity.
In ancient times, people stored their money in containers made from clay, known for its abundance and affordability. The colour orange was associated with an economical type of clay called "pygg," which was used to create storage jars for money. Over time, as language evolved, the pronunciation of "pygg" shifted from "pug" to "pig", leading to the eventual shaping of clay jars into pigs.
The piggy bank's symbolic significance also extends to its practical design. The narrow slot at the top of the piggy bank encourages saving by making it easy to insert coins but challenging to retrieve them, discouraging spending. This design feature aligns with the idea of self-control and the importance of setting aside money for future use.
Moreover, the piggy bank has become a pedagogical tool, teaching children about thrift and saving. Its playful and decorative appearance makes saving money a fun and engaging activity for young ones. The act of inserting coins into the piggy bank helps children develop a healthy relationship with money and understand the value of patience and financial responsibility.
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The earliest piggy banks
The history of the piggy bank dates back nearly 600 years, before the creation of modern-style banking institutions. During the Middle Ages, people stored their money at home, in common kitchen jars. Metal was expensive and seldom used for household items, so dishes and pots were made of economical orange-coloured clay called "pygg". People would save money in these clay pots, or "pygg jars".
Over time, the pronunciation of "pygg" changed from "'pug" to "pig" due to changes in language conventions. As the name evolved, potters began to make the jars in the shape of pigs. The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date to the 12th century on the island of Java, in Indonesia. These money boxes were in the shape of wild boars and were made of terracotta. The Javanese term "cèlèngan" means "likeness of a wild boar" and is used to refer to both "savings" and "piggy bank" in modern Indonesian.
Another theory suggests that the word "pig" was used from about 1450 to describe general earthenware products. Some items, such as ceramic hot water bottles, were smoothly rounded like a pig's body and were thus called "pigs". The shape of the piggy bank may also have originated from an old idea that pigs were symbols of fertility and frugality. The popularity of Western piggy banks may have originated in Germany, where pigs were revered as symbols of good fortune.
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The Majapahit empire's influence
The origins of the piggy bank can be traced back to nearly 600 years ago, before the advent of modern banking institutions. People would typically store their money at home in common kitchen jars. During the Middle Ages, metal was costly and infrequently employed in the manufacture of household goods. As a substitute, dishes and pots were crafted from a reasonably priced orange-hued clay called pygg. When individuals had spare change, they would place it in one of their clay jars, or a pygg pot.
The term "piggy bank" may have originated from the Javanese word "cèlèngan", which means "likeness of a wild boar" but is also used to refer to both "savings" and "piggy bank" in modern Indonesian. The earliest known pig-shaped money containers date back to the 12th century on the island of Java, which was once part of the Majapahit Empire.
The Majapahit Empire was a thalassocracy in Southeast Asia, centred on the island of Java (present-day Indonesia) that existed from 1293 to circa 1500. During the reign of Hayam Wuruk from 1350 to 1389, the empire reached its zenith, with conquests spanning Southeast Asia. The empire is believed to have encompassed 98 tributaries, including modern-day Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand, the Sulu Archipelago, the Philippines, and East Timor.
The Majapahit Empire was among the first to adopt the design of pig-shaped coin containers, as boars symbolised good fortune and wealth. The introduction of Chinese copper coins to the empire in the 14th century may have contributed to the emergence of piggy banks. The Chinese kepeng coins were imported to Majapahit, leading to the creation of local copper coins modelled after the Chinese prototype. With the increased availability of cash, individuals needed a convenient place to store their money at home, thus giving rise to the pig-shaped piggy banks.
The symbolism of the boar held cultural significance in Majapahit Java. It represented the accumulation and salvaging of coins and meat, the prestige associated with hunting and taming wild boars, the generosity inherent in gifting pigs and their meat, and the divine role of the king as the protector of the world and controller of chaotic waters. These interconnected meanings provided a cultural rationale for the use of cèlèngan, or piggy banks, as gifts of homage and royal generosity, as well as vessels for collecting tax revenue intended for the king.
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The German influence
The evolution of the English language also played a role in the German influence on piggy banks. During the Middle Ages, the word "pygg", referring to an orange-coloured clay used for pots and jars, would have been pronounced "pug" by the Saxons. However, as the pronunciation of "y" changed over time, "pygg" eventually sounded like "pig". This linguistic evolution caused Europeans to associate the clay pots with the animal, and by the 19th century, English potters were producing "pygg banks" shaped like pigs.
The influx of German immigrants to the United States in the 19th century may have further contributed to the popularity of piggy banks in the West. Germans had been using money boxes in the shape of pigs for centuries, and their cultural beliefs about pigs as symbols of luck and wealth travelled with them to the United States. The modern concept of the "piggy bank" was first popularised in the United States in the early 20th century, influenced by German culture and beliefs.
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Frequently asked questions
A piggy bank is a coin container, usually used by children, with a slot at the top to insert coins or folded bank notes.
The idea of using containers to save coins has existed for centuries. The earliest known money box dates back to the 2nd century BC in the Greek colony of Priene, Asia Minor. Money boxes have been excavated in Pompeii and Herculaneum, and ancient money boxes appear in a variety of shapes. The oldest known pig-shaped money containers date to the 12th century on the island of Java, in Indonesia.
The popularity of Western piggy banks may have originated in Germany, where pigs were revered as symbols of good fortune. The large flow of German migrants to the US in the 19th century helped popularise the piggy bank.
The word "piggy" in "piggy bank" may have originated from the word "pygg", which referred to the orange-coloured clay used to make money boxes during the Middle Ages. Over time, as the English language evolved, the pronunciation of "pygg" changed to sound like "pig". Potters then started producing banks in the shape of pigs, referencing the name.
