Is this pin a fake?

[marvali]

Need help with a Cutie pin of Marie (Aristocats). I got a pin that looks exactly like 37941 on pinpics, but it is supposed to be a bobble and this one is just a solid pin. I have tried multiple searches to see if there is actually one like I have listed elsewhere that was issued a different date or location with no luck.

I know that one of the common "unauthorized" pin tricks is to save money by not doing the more expensive things (like 3D, spinners, bobble, etc.) and so I am suspicious I got a scrapper/fake pin. Is anyone else aware of a pin like this that is NOT a bobble? (either that you have or you knew better how to do the search) Or have you also gotten this very same pin and know it to be unauthorized?

TIA for your help.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I looked and didn't see anything. Sorry!

We have seen some pretty strange things with pins. We got a Goofy face that was actually supposed to be mounted on a big letter "G", but the pin post and the back stamp looked completely normal. The only difference in the face was that his tongue was pink instead of red (or red instead of pink - something like that). It was the exact same face design, it just wasn't mounted on anything. And it was big enough to be a pin on it's own, so we never questioned it until we tried to look it up. I don't know what DH did with it - it may be still in his collection.

I think we have decided to try not to worry about it. There are SO many fakes it is impossible to avoid them.

 

[marvali]

Thanks for the feedback. I am fairly new at this but not naive. I ordered a large lot of pins on ebay knowing that there may be a certain number of them that were questionable. I searched pinpics and dizpins but haven't totally learned how to necessarily focus my search completely. I also don't know if either of those sites is complete with all known pins.

Since there are some pins that are reissued with subtle differences, I didn't want to cry fake without finding out if someone else may have known of another version of this pin that might have not been listed yet or been issued at another park, etc.

 

[missj1975]

Pinpics is not a complete pin database but it is pretty close. Members of pinpics add pins to the database and all you need is an email address to be a member of pinpics. Dizpins is associated with Pinpics.

What I would suggest is adding your pin with a picture to the database. Under the "origin" column just put unknown and under the description column put what you know about the pin but add a comment that you are looking for info on the pin. Most users browse the "what's new" section quite frequently and I am sure someone will recognize your pin and put a comment.

If the moderators determine the pin is a scrapper they will recatorigize the pin for you. At least that way if it is a scrapper you are helping by letting others know about another scrapper.

 

[marvali]

Pinpics is not a complete pin database but it is pretty close. Members of pinpics add pins to the database and all you need is an email address to be a member of pinpics. Dizpins is associated with Pinpics.

What I would suggest is adding your pin with a picture to the database. Under the "origin" column just put unknown and under the description column put what you know about the pin but add a comment that you are looking for info on the pin. Most users browse the "what's new" section quite frequently and I am sure someone will recognize your pin and put a comment.

If the moderators determine the pin is a scrapper they will recatorigize the pin for you. At least that way if it is a scrapper you are helping by letting others know about another scrapper.

Thanks missj, I joined pinpics last night so I can do just that. Do you know if there is somewhere good that shows pics of good pins right beside the scrappers/unauthorized pins so you can see some of the common variations for the illegal pins? I know I saw one thread somewhere that one person did this with one of the pins, but was wondering if there is a good repository or thread on pinpics or elsewhere that people can add to so others can learn what to look for, and to help verify if their pin is the real deal or not. I would be more than willing to take some good digital pics of one's I just got that I'm not so sure about.

Also, it would be good to know on open-ended pins what years you may find on the backs of legitimate pins. For example, my son got one of the Mickey Icon that has the british flag. I know these were originally released a good while back, but the one we got has a 2007 backstamp on it. I know there are fakes of this pin out there, but other than the 2007 everything else seems legit. Since you can buy this pin in the parks today (or at least last year when we were there) I am guessing that it is very possible there may have been a legitimate reprint of this pin in 2007.

 

[daber]

Also, it would be good to know on open-ended pins what years you may find on the backs of legitimate pins. For example, my son got one of the Mickey Icon that has the british flag. I know these were originally released a good while back, but the one we got has a 2007 backstamp on it. I know there are fakes of this pin out there, but other than the 2007 everything else seems legit. Since you can buy this pin in the parks today (or at least last year when we were there) I am guessing that it is very possible there may have been a legitimate reprint of this pin in 2007.

Open-ended, or "rack" pins usually are not the target of those who create fake pins. You normally see fakes of limited edition (LE) pins, since the demand is normally greater than the supply. Or "rack" pins prior to 1999, when pin trading became a "Disney Tradition".

 

[marvali]

Open-ended, or "rack" pins usually are not the target of those who create fake pins. You normally see fakes of limited edition (LE) pins, since the demand is normally greater than the supply. Or "rack" pins prior to 1999, when pin trading became a "Disney Tradition".

You're right, but pinpics shows this as an older pin when it was issued and states there are known pins out there for this pin that are unauthorized, although it doesn't give any indication of what is different about them. I got one in the parks last year with the USA flag symbolized, but this one with the British flag we got via ebay in a lot sale.