One of the most popular activities for guests at any Disney resort is pin trading. The trend was inspired by pin trading activities at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Disney’s vast collection of pins includes special designs featuring attractions, resorts, characters, special events, holidays, and more. Guests can buy many pins directly for their collection, but the fun is in trading them. There are many pins that you can only get by trading with Cast Members because they’re never sold in stores.
The problem with pin trading is that there are a lot of counterfeits out there that look extremely similar to the real thing. Most Disney pins, both real and fake, are manufactured in China. When a factory finishes with a legitimate run of real pins, they often discard the old mold. These same molds are then used in counterfeit production runs to create pins that can look nearly identical to the real thing.
The following qualities will help you determine whether a pin is real or a fake. These elements will ensure that you’re looking at a genuine pin but are not necessarily present on every pin that’s authentic. Just because a pin lacks one of the criteria, it’s not necessarily a fake. Having one or more of these features does mean that your pin is almost surely real.
1. Look for the official Disney Pin Trading logo
Disney Pin Logo
Every official Disney Pin should have a Pin Trading logo on the back. The main part of the logo is a classic Mickey head with a banner across the middle. Inside the banner it will say “Pin Trading,” with the release year beneath it. Newer pins have the Mickey head logo set atop a crest shape, making it look even more official. It should also say “© Disney.”
2. Look for a stick pin closure
Wrong Pin ClosureTrading pins don’t have this closure.
Official Disney trading pins have a stick pin that pokes a hole into an article of clothing and is held on by a rubber Mickey Mouse shaped pin back. If the closure is anything else, it may not be the real McCoy. Please note that if the pin back doesn’t look like Mickey, it doesn’t mean that it’s a fake. The original pin back may have been replaced.
3. Look for prongs on the back
With and Without ProngsThe pin on the left is authentic
Official Disney Pin Trading pins usually feature at least one prong to keep the pin from spinning. Larger pins boast two small prongs while smaller pins usually offer one tiny prong. These prongs, or nubs, are little more than raised bumps so they’re easy to miss, but a nub or two on the back is an excellent indicator that you have a genuine pin.
4. Check for a serial number
Pin with Serial Number
In recent years, Disney has printed or molded a serial number onto the actual pin. This is a reference number that varies from pin to pin, that can easily be searched on a database to check its authenticity. If your pin has this, it is definitely the genuine article.
5. Examine the coloring
Authentic and Fake Pin ColoringThe eyes give away the fake coloring on this pin
Veteran pin traders can usually spot a fake a mile away based on its coloring. Cheap knockoffs use cheap paints and the makers of said fakes usually don’t care too much. One of the most common colors to look for is a dirty yellow where a green or gray may have been. Also, if the coloring seems too bright even for a Disney character it may mean the pin isn’t genuine. Be on the lookout for pins that have coloring coming off the surface. Official Disney pins shouldn’t lose their paint in the hot sunny Florida or California weather. If you pin has peeling paint, you should add it to your scrap pile.
6. Look for sharp lines
Sharp Lines on a Pin
A lot of hard work goes into creating a genuine Disney pin trading pin. That means that no matter how small the lettering, you should still be able to make out all the words. The small details of the object on the pin are the same. If the character on the pin has his arm at his side and you see more silver line than shirt color, that pin may not be the real deal.
7. Look at the pin’s edges
Rough Edges Indicate a Fake
The edges of a pin can tell a person a lot. Fake pins often have rough cut edges that are caused by the quick work and shoddy workmanship put into each pin. A fake may also be a bit too thin, and feel too light. Obviously each pin’s weight varies from pin to pin based on size, but if one large pin clearly weighs less than a smaller, less exciting pin, it’s probably fake.
Because of the enormity of the Disney Pin Trading program, there really is a pin for everyone. Kids love to trade pins and often don’t care if a pin is real or not. It’s all a matter of perspective. If your kids are in it for the fun of the game, let them trade with impunity. If you’re a serious adult collector, however, and want to keep your collection authentic or perhaps even make some money on eBay from a rare and valuable find, these tricks will help you avoid the counterfeits and keep your collection clean.
