Why "Piggy Bank"?

@Jestin (560)
Philippines
December 1, 2006 1:58am CST
I'm just wondering, why is it a pig figure used for saving coins or money at home? Even if it's not a pig figure anymore, it still is called a piggy bank. Does anybody know why?
2 responses
@blueman (16509)
• India
1 Dec 06
because it looks like a pig, maybe.
@Jestin (560)
• Philippines
3 Dec 06
When did it start to look like a pig? And why did they make it look like a pig?
@dexterous21 (1180)
• Philippines
1 Dec 06
piggy bank - piggy bank
Piggy bank (sometimes penny bank or money box) is the traditional name of a coin accumulation and storage container, most often used by children. A piggy bank is known among collectors as a still bank as opposed to the mechanical banks popular in the early 20th century. Piggy banks are often shaped like pigs and made of ceramic or porcelain. Piggy banks are used to reinforce ideas of savings and spending to children; money can be easily inserted, but the pig must be broken open for it to be retrieved, forcing the child to justify his or her decision.
@Jestin (560)
• Philippines
3 Dec 06
I do know that, but why did they choose pig? Why not cow or something else? Or a coin shaped container?