Olympic pin trading goes way beyond the word hobby, it’s a game, and as any other game, you need to make sure you know the slang! Being an international pastime, you need to make sure you know your basic terms for a successful trading season. Here are a few basic Olympic pin slang words that you must know before you consider trading part of your collection.

Trader: A person who trades lapel pins. The word is also used in reference to a pin that a person plans to trade rather than keeping it as part of their permanent collection.

Pinhead: Refers to the person who enjoys collecting pins who collects pins. It is said that the name comes from the tradition of displaying Olympic pins on hats during the Olympic Games.

Swap: Exchange, trade, switch.

Production Olympic pin: A pin produced in large quantities.

Primary Olympic pin: An Olympic pin that features the official logo of an Olympic Organizing Committee.

Badge: The European name for the word pin. An Olympic badge is also a pin that identifies the person in some way or other with the Olympic Games..

Prototype: The first design of a lapel pin which is revised and considered for future production.

Generic Olympic pin: A lapel pin with a general, undated design, these do not include any specific information and therefore can be used for more than one Olympic event.

Commemorative Olympic pin: A lapel pin that commemorates a specific Olympic games, are usually sold as a souvenir and are authorized by an Olympic Organizing Committee.

Olympic Media pin: An Olympic pin issued by the media, be it a newspaper, international television network, wire service, magazine or any other that covers the Olympic Games.

NGB Olympic pin: This is a sports lapel pin that is generally issued by a National Governing Body or sponsor.

Sponsor or commercial Olympic pin: A lapel pin which is used for advertising and is issued by an official sponsor of the Olympic Games. These usually include a logo the official Olympic mascot.

Medalist’s Olympic pin: These Olympic pins are produced specifically for the athletes who metal in Olympic events, they are made of gold, silver and bronze.

Bid Olympic pin: An Olympic pin which is issued as part of a city’s attempt to secure a future Olympic Games.

Guest badge: These types of Olympic pins are for sponsors and are issued to special guests and VIPs usually for special perks.

Session badge: These badges are large Olympic pins which are issued to identify participants of International Olympic Committee meetings.

Participation medal: This is a pin type medallion which is issued by the Olympic host city to every staff member includes coaches and athletes who participate in the Olympic Games.

NOC Olympic pin: A lapel pin authorized and issued by a National Olympic Committee.

Counterfeit Olympic pin: This Olympic pins are produced illegally and are better known as a fake or a knockoff. They are fake because they are mass produced without a license or authorization.

Authorized Olympic pin: These Olympic pins are the opposite of the counterfeit, they are manufactured and distributed by official Olympic Games licensees or sponsors.

Unauthorized Olympic pin: The pins cannot be called Olympic pins because they are illegal, most of them carry official words or symbols without a valid license.

Unofficial Olympic pin: These Olympic pins are produced for the Games but do not carry any official words or symbols. They are usually issued by entities that have not paid any sponsorship fees.

Rerun or reissue: An authorized reproduction of a pin.

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