There is something particularly engaging about trading pins, even if just to build a robust collection of these beautiful adornments. Their history and value have grown over time from humble beginnings as simple ID pins and awards of merit to supporting a cause or as a sports gear staple.

Many of today's pins have taken on significant meaning during challenging times. Extending from the military going back as far as the civil war to today's heroic civil service personnel such as police and fire fighters, pins are also being worn by government agents within the FBI and CIA.

How Trading Pins are Made

The more outstanding the quality of the pin, the more popular it is among collectors. Designing a team pin is not restricted to the big leagues, though. Anyone can create their own unique pins that can become coveted pieces. Among manufacturers there are staff artists who will help in the process of designing a pin to exacting specifications.

Trading pins can be any size. While there is no standard, the typical piece is approximately two inches across in measurement. The look of a trading pin also has several options, from the most lustrous to more simple styles.

Finishing styles include the following:

• Cloisonné is an ancient process of creating an enamel finish using vitreous enamel and even gemstone or glass inlays to fill compartments, or cloisons of different colors. Kiln firing and surfacing is done to create a smooth finish.

• Soft Enamel is a similar process to cloisonné separating the colors with metal strips, which end up being recessed. When a protective epoxy is used over the top a smooth surface is achieved.

• Etched enamel is a process of chemically etching a design into base metal and filling in the colors by hand before baking and then applying the final epoxy surfacing.

• Die struck pins have the outline of their shape cut out of brass or copper sheeting with the design struck by the die. After plating material and polishing is applied the pin has an engraved appearance.

• Screen Print is a method of applying color by silk screening in solid blocks of color. A final epoxy is thinly coated on the top to prevent scratching.

• 4-Color Process is also referred to as offset printing similarly used in magazine printing. Traditional CMYK color process allows blending and bleeding as an unlimited amount of color may be used.

Copper and brass are the preferred metals to work with in manufacturing pins as they are the most malleable. This is especially functional to facilitate the designs that have a great deal of fine detail. The plating process is what adds strength to the piece and can be responsible for its value, especially if silver, gold or platinum are used.

Types of pins include the following:

• Dangler - one or more loops or chains used as extenders

• Bobble - an inverted dangler attached by a spring in lieu of a chain

• Pin on Pin - a layering effect of multiple pins intended to depict a 3D appearance

• Flocking - the appearance of "fuzz"

• Slider - a moveable piece that slides back and forth

• Lenticular - an image that changes in the view as it is tilted in the light

• LED - the novelty of a pin that lights up or flashes, operating on a battery

• Spinner - allows for a moveable piece that can spin 360 degrees by a spinning mechanism

Pin Backings can also vary from a basic safety clasp to butterfly and jewelry clutches, stick pin, magnetic clasps or screw and nut. Markings can be made on the backs of the pins to show the organization for which the piece was made. This is also where a dedication can be made, including the date and details about a limited run for collectors. This is also where the AP, or Artists Proof information will be found that indicates a small test run. The rarity of such pins makes them prize collector's pieces.