Why You Should Consider Pin Collecting as Your Next New Hobby

Do you love buying knick-knacks, trinkets, and souvenirs whenever you can? Turn your natural love of collecting into a full-fledged hobby!

You’ll quickly reap the benefits of collecting, too. Studies show that hobbies improve focus, reduces stress, and even decrease the risk of depression. Hobbies are also essential for personal and career development.

You already have the passion, now you just need a little direction. What have you always wanted to collect? If you’re drawn to miniatures, pin collecting is an excellent starting point for a collection.

Learn why pin collecting is so popular with first-time collectors and how to start your own pin collection.

Pins Are Easy to Find

You don’t have to go far to find a pin. Pins are everywhere.

Pins are sold in thrift stores, vintage shops, department stores, tourist shops, and convenience stores. Pins often turn up at garage sales, estate sales, and swap meets. If you can’t find the pin you want at a physical location, you can always find pins online.

Many first-time collectors start with eBay. You’ll find all kinds of pins on eBay, from rare vintage pins to limited edition lapel pins. Many pins are sold at auction, but some sellers have “buy now” options.

Communities form around collecting. Online, you’ll find online communities and forums for pin collectors. Start by visiting a pin collecting forum to get a better feel for the market and collecting process.

Next, visit online trading platforms for pin collectors. These are where the serious collectors hang out. You can also buy and sell pins on these platforms.

If you want to see a lot of pins in person, visit a collector’s convention or trade show. Lots of rare pins show up at these conventions, so stay on the lookout for a great deal!

An Affordable Introduction to Collecting

Is money stopping you from taking up a hobby? Some hobbies, like photography, videography, fashion, and travel, are quite costly. This is another reason to take up pin collecting instead.

Pin collecting is an affordable hobby to start. For example, a lot of 50 vintage pins and broaches can cost as little as $40 on eBay. A handful of vintage pins can run as low as $5 on some sites!

Some of the most expensive vintage pins are $200 to $300 each, which is still relatively inexpensive for valuable vintage collectibles. 80s pins are extremely valuable right now, but you can score a small lot of them for under $100 online.

Remember to check out those pin collector communities first, so you know how much you should pay. Sellers can set any prices they want. Understand the market value of pins before spending your entire paycheck.

A Wide Selection to Choose From

As you research pin prices online, you’ll notice an overwhelming variety of pins. You don’t have to collect everything. Start with a theme you’re drawn to, like politics, and narrow your choices.

Political Pins and Buttons

Political pins are so valuable because they’re steeped in history. Some of the most coveted pins are from lost political campaigns of the past, like George McGovern’s 1972 campaign. Political buttons from the Democratic Party primary of 1960 are worth anywhere from $300 to $500.

When collecting political campaign buttons, remember to research party primaries, congressional elections, and gubernatorial elections, not just well-known presidential elections.

Disney Pins

Another popular pin category is Disney. Some of the rarest Disney pins are worth over $500. However, you could also buy hundreds of vintage Disney pins for the same price.

There are thousands of Disney pin varieties, ranging from the trade pins of the 60s to the limited edition Star Wars pins of today. Start with your favorite Disney character or movie, and build your collection from there.

You could also start your collection at Disneyland itself. All Disney theme parks and resorts sell collectible Disney pins.

More Pin Categories

Vintage political campaign buttons and Disney pins are just two choices to start with. Here are several more pin categories to consider:

• Vintage fashion pins and broaches

• Movie Merchandise and memorabilia

• Old Hollywood pins

• Military pins

• Olympic edition pins

• Zoos and theme parks

• Music pins and buttons

Look for pins and buttons from theme parks or establishments that are now closed. If there’s only a limited quantity of pins available, they may hold more value.

Another interesting category to consider is social issues. Activism pins, fundraising pins, animal rights pins, social justice pins, and anti-war pins also bring value to a collection.   

Easy to Display and Store

Another perk of pin collecting is convenience. Collecting miniature items, like pins, doesn’t require a lot of space or storage. Pin displays are flat and can be stacked on top of each other easily.

There are a few ways to display pins. Flat hanging mounts are the most popular, but you can display them in folding boxes, bulletin boards, and felt boards. More pin collectors are starting to use embroidery hoops to display their treasures, too.

Pins are so easy to store, which makes moving a breeze. Pins take up little room in storage units. You could easily store an entire pin collection in one large box.

Pin Collecting Is an Investment

Once you understand the pin collector market, you can build a surprisingly valuable collection. If you think your pin collection is valuable, get it appraised by a professional appraiser. An appraiser will issue a certification of value, which you’ll need if you sell your collection.

A valuable pin collection is a liquid asset. As you progress with your hobby, think of pin collecting as an investment. While markets fluctuate, your pins could skyrocket in value.

Different factors affect the value of pins. The economy itself and significant events are major indicators. If a famous brand shuts down or an iconic musician dies, those pins may rise in value.

Embark on Your New Hobby

Wave goodbye to boredom, and throw yourself into a hobby you’re passionate about. Use this guide to build a vibrant (and valuable) pin collection of your own.

Pin collecting is just the beginning. Enrich your life with even more ideas and inspiration for hobbies.