Profile: Lapel Pins – 1982 World Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark
It’s an odd thing about Denmark and figure skating. For a country that has never produced a figure skater who has placed in the top three at the World or European Figure Skating Championships (competing under the Danish flag, that is), it has collectively hosted those two events numerous times, from the 1970s into the 1990s. The 1982 World Figure Skating Championships, the topic of today’s blog, is the only World event to be held in the Danish capital city, with the pins from that event becoming a story all their own. Now, 40 years after, only long-time collectors like The Curator of The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins remember that fortælling (tale), so let’s take a moment to document it for history.
The 1982 World Championships were commemorated with two pins in enamel, identical in design and differing only in color: one black and one white. Each pin is on a gold-color base metal, allowing the design elements to stand off effectively. The main visual of the pin is a latitude/longitude globe with the Danish flag (Dannebrog) inset on the left and approximating the location of Denmark; an opposing circular shape with a figure skater in a stag jump is superimposed on the right. Together, the globe and the circular shape loosely form the compulsory figure eight. Below, in English, are the event name, location, and year: “World Championships in Figure Skating, Copenhagen, 1982.” The Copenhagen pins are one of the few to use the terminology “World Championships in Figure Skating” instead of the common and more correct “World Figure Skating Championships.”
Reports from attendees at the event have verified that both versions of the pins sold out early, possibly on only the first or second day of competition. Partially contributing to the early sell-out was one collector who, as told to The Curator in 1984, purchased 200 of each version to fulfill orders from friends at her skating club and to keep as a stash of traders to help build a fledgling collection. Others attending the event, whether they actively collected figure skating pins or simply wanted a souvenir of their visit, were left empty-handed. But the Danes quickly arranged for a second production of pins, although those were done in silkscreen on a flat gold-color base metal and of inferior quality to the originals. The same design was used, and the second production was also produced in black and white versions. Each of the four pins measures approximately 1‑1/2″ x 1‑1/4″ (3.8 cm x 3.2 cm).
To serious collectors, there are four versions of pins from the 1982 World Figure Skating Championships, and collecting all of them was an earnest pursuit in the years immediately following the event.
To serious collectors, there are four versions of pins from the 1982 World Figure Skating Championships, and collecting all of them was an earnest pursuit in the years immediately following the event. The enamel versions rarely became available and, at the time, commanded a premium trade. Many collectors did not even realize the second production pins were not the originals issued, but the story of the sell-out eventually got around, making the first production pins the more desirable ones. Today, an original enamel pin will come up at an online auction site and sells for very little, if it even sells at all. Such is the interest in collecting figure skating pins today.
Shown in the gallery are all four of the pins, arranged together by color. The original enamel pin is on the left, and the second production pin is on the right. Unlike some other events where pins sold out early and left collectors permanently empty-handed, the Danes’ solution to offer an alternate version of the lapel pin was commendable. For a culturally infused figure skating pin from Denmark, see the 1975 European Figure Skating Championships blog.
Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1982 World Figure Skating Championships Pins: A Sellout Crowd. And be sure to read the museum story for more information about figure skating pins.
(Bemærk: Hej til alle læsere i Danmark. Velkommen til “The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins.” Museets kurator taler, læser og skriver lidt dansk. Så speciel “shout out” til dig og tusind tak fordi du kiggede forbi! Nyd dit besøg på min hjemmeside. Jeg håber dig finder det interessant. Undskyld, hvis mit dansk er forfærdeligt!)
Pins Gallery: 1982 World Figure Skating Championships
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