First is the pawn brokers' symbol of three golden balls. Anyone who has passed a pawn shop knows this symbol. Great places to find bargains, they are usually located in the seedier parts of town which provides an excellent opportunity to absorb local color.
Several etymologies exist for the symbol. Banking pioneers, the Medici family's crest contained three gold orbs. The seal of the Italian province of Lombardy has three gold coins. One side of the Jewish shekel had three pomegranates on a single stem. Any of these, or a combination of them could be the origin of the symbol. One interesting side-note is that St. Nicholas is the Patron Saint of pawn shops. Ironic as many of us could avail ourselves of this form of money lending to pay off our holiday bills.
The other blog suggestion was the source of the phrase "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". This expression is said to come from the storage of cannon balls on a ship. The iron cannon balls would be stacked on a brass plate call a "monkey". Cold temperatures would shrink the plate causing the balls to fall off.
Colorful, but debunked by both the US Navy and the Oxford English Dictionary. Cannon balls were stored in shot racks on the spar or gun deck. The OED further notes that the phrase "cold enough to freeze the tail off a brass monkey" as preceding the testicular version. Small brass monkey figurines from Asia were popular gifts in the Victorian era. The editors believe the later embellishment was more for effect than accuracy. - as ever BB
"A man's errors are his portals of discovery." - James Joyce
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