A History of Pawnbroking
Pawnbroking and collateral loans date back more than 3,000 years, with the first pawn shops opening in China to provide short-term credit for low-paid workers and peasants. Ancient Greeks and Romans Ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with pawn shops; indeed, the pawn is derived from the Latin word “patinum”, which means pledged. Through […]
Symbol Of The Pawnbroker
Where does the symbol of the pawnbroker originate? The three gold balls, a universal symbol of pawnbrokers, once again grace our high streets as pawnbroking experiences a resurgence in the past decade. The symbol is closely associated with the Italian region of Lombardy, just like the pawnbroking industry itself. Pawnbroking has a history spanning over […]
A brief history of Sovereigns
1. The Birth of the Sovereign In October 1489, King Henry VIII’s Royal Mint received an order to produce a new gold currency, leading to the creation of the very first sovereign coin. 2. The Iconic Design The sovereign, weighing 15.55g and measuring 40mm in diameter, boasted a fineness of 23.3 carats. Its impressive size […]