About Us

About Mister Money

Mister Money USA is a stable multi-faceted company; the organization was originally founded in 1977 in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the purchase of a single pawnshop. Since that date, Mister Money has become a force in the sub-prime banking industry with more than 40 locations in the United States.

Mister Money USA takes Pride in providing many services to our customers throughout the country, providing pawn loans for those unexpected bills; we give you cash when you need it most. We provide pawn loans from $5.00 to $50,000 and more.

Mister Money USA has some of the finest items for sale, new and used. From watches and jewelry to TVs and electronics to sporting goods and tools to musical instruments, Mister Money USA has it all on sale at our stores.

Mister Money USA is a proud member of the National Pawnbrokers Association for over 25 Years. You can trust Mister Money USA for all your financial needs.

Mister Money USA has been selling on eBay since 1999 and has a combined feed back of over 30,000! Check out the great deals Mister Money USA has on sale at eBay.

History of the Pawnshop Industry

As mankind’s oldest financial institution, pawnbroking carries on a tradition with a rich history. Pawnbroking can be traced back at least 3,000 years to ancient China, and has been found in the earliest written histories of Greek and Roman civilizations.

During the Middle Ages, certain usury laws imposed by the Church prohibited the charging of interest on loans, thus limiting pawnbroking to people who had religious beliefs outside of the Church. Out of economic necessity, and because of problems in the banking system, pawnshops made a resurgence in later years. The House of the Lombard operated pawnshops throughout Europe. Legend contends that they even counted royalty, such as King Edward III of England, among their clientele during the 14th century. The symbol of the Lombards’ operations was the three gold balls that still remain the trademark. 

Queen Isabella of Spain pawned the crown jewels to finance Columbus’ voyage to America. The word pawn originates from the Latin word ‘patinum’ which means cloth or clothing. The French word ‘pan’ refers to a skirt or blouse. 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 families in Italy along with the Lombards in England were moneylenders in Europe. Legend has it that one of the Medicis in the employ of Emperor Charles the Great fought a giant and slew him with three sacks of rocks. The three balls or globes later became part of their family crest, and ultimately, the sign of pawnbroking. 

Throughout history, pawnbrokers have been helping people. The Bible offers references to pawnbroking, and in Deuteronomy 24:6-13 it states: ‘No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge, for he taketh a man’s life to pledge’. What this means is: you should not take as a pledge anything a man needs to make a living. The same chapter also says: ‘Thou shalt not go into his house to fetch the pledge. Thou shalt stand abroad and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring the pledge…unto thee.’ Interestingly, often the debtor’s children could be used as a pledge (2 Kings,4:1-7). Also in Deuteronomy 23:21 the people were told not to take interest from their own countrymen – only from foreigners. 

According to ancient Mesopotamian law, the rates of interest charged – even in those days – were 20% for silver, and 33% for grain. 

The moneychangers of Jesus’ time served two purposes. First they exchanged Antiochian Tetradrachms for the local currency (shekels), exacting a fee between 4% and 8% for their services. Second, they functioned as bankers and lenders. In the well-known Gospel story, Jesus overturned their tables because he didn’t feel the gates of the Temple were the right place to be conducting that business. In fact, such moneychangers set up shop there as a service, to deal with people who came to pay their half-shekel Temple tax. The rabbis insisted it be paid in silver didrachms of Tyre, which nobody carried.