Last Updated on July 17, 2021 by Netropolitan Museum
1985 Skate America at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins
The pins and medal produced to commemorate the 1985 Skate America event, held in St. Paul, Minnesota, hold the distinction of being among the most inconsistent as to how the location of the event was listed. It’s an unusual problem, to be certain. In the gallery below, the small logo pin lists “Minnesota” as the location while the large logo pin lists “St. Paul/Minneapolis.” The third pin, featuring the event mascot, references “St. Paul, MN,” and the official’s medal shows “St. Paul/Minnesota.”
Perhaps the indecision on locations resulted from an attempt to display as many combinations as possible of the words St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Minnesota and the state abbreviation MN. Whatever the reason for the indecision, it is an oddity in the world of figure skating pins.
The small logo pin is the standout, produced on a rich gold base metal with the familiar Skate America pictogram in traditional red and blue. The angled, cut-out shape at the top of the pin is an effective treatment not seen in prior Skate America pins. It measures approximately 13/16″ x 11/16″ (2.1 cm x 1.7 cm). The large logo pin also features the pictogram, although executed in different shades of red and blue than the companion smaller pin, while the mascot pin features a goofy, cartoon-style duck on skates. Both pins are covered with an epoxy dome. The logo pin measures approximately 1-1/16″ x 15/16″ (2.7 cm x 2.4 cm) and the mascot pin measures 7/8″ in diameter (2.2 cm).
The small logo pin is the standout, produced on a rich gold base metal with the familiar Skate America pictogram in traditional red and blue.
The official’s medal—likely presented to an operations expert who served at the event—is suspended from a handsome dark blue ribbon that closely matches the blue used on the smaller pin. The medal itself, in relief and made of a silver-color metal, features the Skate America pictogram as the central design element. The deep relief of the pin allows for all elements to display well. The word “Official” is along the top, constrained to the circular shape. Including the ribbon, the medal measures approximately 1-1/2″ x 3″ (3.8 cm x 7.6 cm).
Enjoy On Indecision. 1985.
1985 Skate America Pin Gallery
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