Pawnshops have become great places to sell items for quick cash or to buy items at a bargain price. However, have you ever wondered where they came from and why? Read now and find out.

1. THE HISTORY OF
PAWN SHOPS
Presented by Chapes-JPL

2. Introduction
THE GOOD OLE PAWN SHOP
Pawnshops have become great places to sell
items for quick cash or to buy items at a bargain
price. Pawnshops are a staple of American
culture and for that matter, the culture of the
world. From northwest America to southeast
China, the now famous pawnbroker’s symbol
(three spheres hanging from a bar) can be seen
displayed prominently in front of shops that
advertise deals on jewelry, electronics, tools and
more.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
Nowadays, most people give little thought to the
history of pawn shops. It’s almost as if we all woke
up one day and noticed a pawnshop around the
corner and no one cared to ask where it came
from or why it was there. Most of us have just
continued to enjoy its convenience and
affordability. In this presentation, we’ll take a look
at the history of pawn broking and try to answer
the aforementioned questions above.

3. HELLO!
I am Lee Benhayon
I will be your presenter for today.
You can find me at info@chapesjpl.com

4. Where it all started
Let’s start with the inventors.

5. ✘ Pawn broking as we know
it today was started in the
unlikeliest of places,
Buddhist monasteries.
✘ Over 3000 years ago,
Buddhist monks
introduced pawn broking in
ancient China as a means
to aid peasants financially.
The inventors of pawn broking
✘ The monks would grant
loans to peasants on the
condition that they would
trade something of value,
since it was forbidden to
charge interest on money,
a concept known at the
time as usury.

6. The spread of pawn shops in China
✘As the popularity of pawn shops grew within
impoverished communities, new lenders arose to meet
the demand. Buddhist monasteries began partnering
with wealthy layman to expand the practice throughout
China.

7. Early Chinese pawn shop

8. Where it went
Let’s continue with the adopters.

9. Pawn shops in Greece and Rome
✘ Eventually, pawn shops
began spawning
throughout Greece and
Rome as the business
model gained traction.
✘ However, the limitations of
usury were now removed.
Pawn broking became so
lucrative that regulation
became a necessity.
✘ Under Roman law, certain
items such as clothing,
tillage equipment and
furniture could not be
pledged as collateral.
✘ Later on, the Catholic
Church reimposed
restrictions on the amount
of interest that could be
charged on a loan.

10. The Roman senate that regualted pawn shops

11. The evolution of the pawn shop
✘ During medieval Europe,
the pledge system was
adopted with its laws and
principles intact. Initially,
pawn brokers abided by
these laws and operated
purely off goodwill.
✘ Soon, the expenses of
running a pawn shop
began to be a burden.
✘ It was no longer feasible to
help the poor without
hurting one’s own financial
stability.
✘ The Catholic Church was
therefore forced to allow
pawnbrokers to charge
interest on loans to cover
their expenses.

12. The medieval poor fishing for food

13. The controversy of charging interest
✘ The actions of the Catholic
Church caused a great
uproar within the
community as charging
interest was practically
viewed as a sin.
✘ The pope at the time, Pope
Leo X, quelled such
debates as he announced
that pawnshops were to be
considered a lawful and
valuable institution to the
community. He forbade
anyone to differ with the
threat of
excommunication.

14. Pope Leo X

15. Unwarranted Stigma
✘ The controversy of
charging interest is
precisely where pawn
broking took on a negative
connotation. Although
monarchs like King Edward
III and Queen Isabella
utilized the services of
pawnbrokers, most of the
common people still
viewed them as usurers.

16. Pawn broking today
✘ In modern times, pawn
broking has lost some of
the negative stigma it has
acquired throughout
history. In the United
States, pawn shops have to
abide by strict regulations
on interest rates and
business practices.
✘ They’ve become the go-to
source for millions of
people who are strapped
for cash and for those who
are looking to score a nice
bargain. Pawnbrokers have
and will continue to
flourish around the world
as one of the oldest known
professions that have
withstood the test of time.

17. THANKS!
Any questions?
Contact Us
Chapes-JPL
3355 Lenox Rd. NE #875
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 504-7021

18. About Chapes-JPL
Established in 1980 as an
alternative to banks and
traditional pawnbrokers, we
provide low interest loans on
gold, diamonds, jewelry,
watches and other valuable
assets. Our office in Atlanta,
Georgia services over 18,000
customers nationwide.

19. Located in Atlanta, Georgia
our office

20. $90,000,000In loans funded
100%Total success!
18,000Satisfied clients

21. Place your screenshot here
Visit our website
Visit our website and learn
more about our company, our
mission, and our commitment
to our clients.

22. References
History of pawnbroking. (2017, July 18). Retrieved August 24, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pawnbroking
Pawning Through the Ages. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2017, from
http://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars/articles/pawning-through-the-ages
The History Of Pawnbroking. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2017, from
http://www.thenpa.com/About-Pawnbroking/The-History-Of-Pawnbroking.aspx