What is the symbol for a pawn shop?

The traditional symbol for pawn shops is three gold balls suspended from a bar. While this has come to be a well-known symbol for pawn shops, the origins of the symbol aren’t so clear. There is a variety of lore associated with the origins and meaning of the symbol.

Why is pawn shop symbol three balls?

Pawnbrokers were easily identified by their signs of three golden balls, a symbol of St Nicholas who, according to legend, had saved three young girls from destitution by loaning them each a bag of gold so they could get married.

Why is a pawn shop called a pawn shop?

The history of pawn* can be traced back thousands of years. The word pawn is derived from the Latin word pignus, for pledge or pawn. A pawnbroker is an individual or business that loans people money and uses personal items as a pledge to repay the loan. If the loan is not repaid, the pawnbroker will sell the property.

Why do pawn shops take your picture?

Pawn shops gather personal information in order to comply with state and federal laws and regulations that govern people pawning or selling merchandise to the pawn shop. During every transaction, pawn shops will ask for a government-issued photo ID for record keeping.

What’s another name for a pawnbroker?

In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for pawnbroker, like: moneylender, loan-shark, tobacconist, greengrocer, usurer, moneymonger, shylock, broker, lender, lumberer and fishmonger.

Where did pawn shops originate?

Ancient China
The origins of pawn shops have their roots in Ancient China about 3,000 years ago. Pawnbrokers, often working independently, would offer short-term credit to peasants. This trend continued until the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome made this concept more mainstream.

What does it mean to say someone is a pawn?

a person who does not have any real power but is used by others to achieve something: The refugees are pawns in an international political dispute.

Why is pawnbroker called Uncle?

noun A pawnbroker: so called in humorous allusion to the financial favors often expected and sometimes received from rich uncles.

What does Pawn mean in slang?

If you say that someone is using you as a pawn, you mean that they are using you for their own advantage.

Can you pawn 2 things at once?

Yes, they will. In fact, there are many benefits to a pawn shop when a person brings in the same item again.