Pin Collecting Frenzy in Milan
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, a group of about twelve enthusiasts gathered outside a Milan metro station, eyes glued to their phones in anticipation of a crucial social media post. At precisely 8 a.m., their patience was rewarded with a location update that triggered a frenzy — the Instagram message read, “Run, don’t walk: we’re in the Castello area!” With the promise of free, limited-edition Olympic pins, the collectors sprinted off to secure their treasures.
The Ritual of Collecting
This ritual has become a daily affair for avid collectors in Milan, where eager participants line up at various locations to get their hands on uniquely designed pins that symbolize different neighborhoods and iconic landmarks of the city, including famed sites like the Duomo and areas such as Isola and Porta Venezia. Among them is Ilaria Pasqua, an English teacher who has made it her mission to collect pins from all seven neighborhoods, having risen early every day since Saturday to do so. Teaming up with fellow collectors, she has created a strategy to be among the first in line.
“I recognize it might seem excessive or a waste of time, but engaging with others in this way makes it enjoyable,” Pasqua shared. “Learning more about both the city I live in and meeting new people in the process enhances the experience. And every day, I take home a little piece of treasure.”
After acquiring her pins, she carefully conceals them in her coat pocket, avoiding any opportunistic trades from latecomers.
The Olympic Pin Trading Tradition
The tradition of pin collecting has become a hallmark of the Olympic experience, with enthusiasts traveling far and wide to exchange these enameled keepsakes. This year in Milan marks the first opportunity for collectors to engage in an official pin trading center since the 2018 Winter Games in Pyongyang. Sponsored by Warner Brothers, the center contains interactive areas for children and numerous tables for serious traders, drawing participants from across the globe, including countries like the United States and Japan.
One such dedicated trader, Eddie Schneider from Lindenhurst, NY, has amassed an impressive collection of 25,000 pins since his first Olympic experience in Los Angeles back in 1984. Notably, one treasured pin from the 1948 London Games holds sentimental value, as his mother attended those Games. Schneider likens the Olympics to a biannual World’s Fair, celebrating diverse cultures and the joys of gathering with fellow enthusiasts.
Community and Exploration
Among the more experienced collectors is 21-year-old Josh Waller from London, who began pin collecting as a child. He arrived in Milan with 1,500 pins, boasting a collection that has garnered awards and recognition within the community. Waller, who volunteers at the trading center, noted the significant turnout, saying,
“The whole pin trading community is very close-knit,”
and he anticipates an uptick in trading activity as the Games progress.
On the streets of Milan, collectors are diligently pursuing the full set of YesMilano pins, an initiative designed not only to celebrate the Games but also to encourage exploration of lesser-known parts of the city. The event has seen tremendous turnout, with initial gatherings reaching over a thousand collectors eager to chase down limited pins. Although latecomers can receive consolation stickers or buy pins for 20 euros from official vendors, the rush of securing the prized pins firsthand remains unmatched.
Personal Stories from the Hunt
Early riser Beatrice Biondi journeyed all the way from Varese to ensure she was first in line at Sforza Castle. Delighted with her first Olympic memorabilia hunt, she enthusiastically shared,
“We had to run a bit, but we made it!”
Following her successful acquisition, Biondi planned to showcase her new pin alongside other items she had collected, expressing her intent to gather as many pins as possible during her Olympic experience.
