The Symbol

The pawn shops have a very interesting and beautiful symbol. It’s the International pawn symbol, three gold spheres suspended by a bar. The symbol holds two story of its origin. The first referred the suspended three balls as the three sacks of gold, by which Saint Nicholas helped the poor man. The second relates to the infamous Medici dynasty; a family of monarchs, bankers, and popes. As the legend goes, a member of this dynasty killed a giant with three bags of rocks, symbolizing spheres. This symbol is sign of prosperity.

Amazing Asia

In Asia, there is a platform for a very interesting pawn industry. In Hong Kong, there is a wooden screen between the door and the counter, to maintain customer’s privacy. The symbol of a pawn shop is a bat holding a coin. In Japan, the symbol is, a circled number seven. In Malaysia pawn is called as “Pajak gadai”. In Philippines, pawn shops are run by private business. In India Marvari Jain community initiated the pawn business. Now the works are done by many agents called as saudagars. Pawn broking is a traditional trade in Thailand, run privately and by government too. In Sri Lanka, and Indonesia too there is a great market for pawn shops.

Rhythmic Pawn

How about letting you know about pawning in a rhythmic way! Sing it!

                                                          Up and down the City Road

                                                               In and out the Eagle

                                                       that’s the way the money goes

                                                             pop! Goes the weasel

Eagle here refers to the famous Eagle pub in London. “Pop” is the slang for “Pawn”.

Weasel is derived from "weasel and stoat" meaning coat. Traditionaly, even poor people owned a suit, which they would wear for their Church Mass on Sundays. During hard times, they would pawn their coat on Monday and claim it back before Sunday. Hence the term "Pop goes the Weasel” now, happily singing through.

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