Pin trading
Encyclopedia
Pin trading is the practice of buying, selling, and exchanging collectible
pins - most often lapel pin
s associated with a particular common theme, as well as related items - such as lanyards, bags, and hat
s to store and display the pins - as a hobby
. Collectible pins used in pin trading are often found in amusement parks and resorts; the Disneyworld and Disneyland resorts, for example, are venues where Disney pin trading
has become a popular activity, and similar pin trading activities are popular at comparable venues such as Sea World
, the Universal Resorts, and at Six Flags
theme parks. They are also found at events that are recurring and/or share a common theme, such as the Olympic Games
and other sporting events. The pins collected and traded are often of a limited edition and thus more highly valued in pin trading, and are sometimes marked or distributed by various companies such as The Coca-Cola Company
who sponsor the events and venues associated with the traded pins. Pin trading at particular venues and events is often governed by rules of etiquette
particular to the venue or occasion.
Pin trading and collecting may have originated with the sport of curling
as some of the oldest pins that could be described as trading pins are from curling clubs dating back to the mid nineteenth-century.
Collecting
The hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, or stamps from all countries of the world...
pins - most often lapel pin
Lapel pin
A lapel pin is a small pin often worn on the lapel of a dress jacket. Lapel pins can be purely ornamental or can indicate the wearer's affiliation with an organization or cause; for example, American Flag lapel pins became very popular in the United States, especially among politicians, following...
s associated with a particular common theme, as well as related items - such as lanyards, bags, and hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
s to store and display the pins - as a hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
. Collectible pins used in pin trading are often found in amusement parks and resorts; the Disneyworld and Disneyland resorts, for example, are venues where Disney pin trading
Disney pin trading
Disney pin trading is the buying and trading of collectible pins and related items featuring Disney characters, attractions, icons, events and other elements. The practice is a hobby officially supported and promoted by Disney. Many thousands of unique pins have been created over the years. Pins...
has become a popular activity, and similar pin trading activities are popular at comparable venues such as Sea World
Sea World
Sea World is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and theme park located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It includes rides, animal exhibits and other attractions, and promotes conservation through education and through the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The...
, the Universal Resorts, and at Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
theme parks. They are also found at events that are recurring and/or share a common theme, such as the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and other sporting events. The pins collected and traded are often of a limited edition and thus more highly valued in pin trading, and are sometimes marked or distributed by various companies such as The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
who sponsor the events and venues associated with the traded pins. Pin trading at particular venues and events is often governed by rules of etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
particular to the venue or occasion.
Pin trading and collecting may have originated with the sport of curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
as some of the oldest pins that could be described as trading pins are from curling clubs dating back to the mid nineteenth-century.