Piggy Banks were originally containers made from a type of clay called "pygg". After they started being made in the shape of pigs, they were called "piggy banks." Banks existed even before money did. In Ancient Mesopotamia, people stored their grain at the royal palace to keep it safe. Private warehouses also began to store goods for people, and early banking and banking regulations developed. In ancient Greece, banking developed with the usage of coins. There were many different types of coins, issued by different city-states (ancient Greek governments). Coins would be exchanged by men called money-changers, who would conduct business on tables they set up outside of temples. The word "bank" comes from the Italian word "banca" which means table.