Golden Balls

The three golden balls now universally seen as the pawnbrokers' sign were taken from the arms of the Medici family who  were rich and powerful merchants and bankers in the 14th century, and eventually ruled Florence. Their coat of arms consisted of six ball shaped roundels which gave rise to the 3 balled sign which was adopted by Lombard bankers, who then exported it to London when they became the first bankers and money lenders there.