The pawn industry is one of the most regulated in the country. Most regulation has been initiated, sponsored and supported by pawnbrokers. Regulatory agencies include the Office of Consumer Credit and Law Enforcement on a local and national level. Pawnbrokers have state, regional and national industry associations which work at self-policing the industry. In the case of public companies, the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission oversee their operations.
Pop goes the weasel.
Queen Isabella of Spain pawned the crown jewels to finance Columbus' voyage to America. In the early centuries, the principle assets people had were their clothes and borrowed money by pawning their clothing. The universal symbol of pawnbroking is three gold balls and is one of the most easily recognized in the world. The Medici family in Italy along with the Lombards in England were money lenders in Europe. The Great fought a giant and slew him with three sacks of rocks.