Olympin Authenticity Scoring Tool
The Olympin Authenticity Scoring Tool has been developed by the Olympin Authenticity Team to support the Team in assessing the legitimacy of Olympic pins in a structured, transparent and consistent way.
Olympin has a long-standing commitment to integrity, trust and knowledge-sharing within the collecting community. As pin trading has grown in scale and complexity, the need for clearer, more consistent and well-documented approaches to authenticity assessment has increased.
The Authenticity Scoring Tool formalises existing best practice and supports expert review. It does not replace experience or judgement.
Why the tool was introduced
In previous years, authenticity assessments were typically based on comparison, historical knowledge and informed judgement. However, approaches can vary depending on the information available and the complexity of individual items.
The Authenticity Scoring Tool was introduced to:
• Support the Authenticity Team with a consistent assessment framework
• Improve transparency in how authenticity decisions are reached
• Ensure submissions are reviewed using the same criteria
• Support fair, repeatable and well-documented outcomes
• Build a centralised record of submissions and assessments over time
The tool supports governance and consistency while allowing expert judgement to remain central to the process.
What the tool does
The tool allows collectors to submit details and images of pins for review by the Olympin Authenticity Team. Each submission is assessed against defined criteria, considering factors such as:
• Design and construction
• Maker and back stamps
• Provenance and contextual information
• Known references and variants
The scoring framework helps structure and document the review process, supporting consistent and explainable outcomes across submissions.
How the assessment process works
At a high level, the process operates as follows:
• Members submit pins for review using the secure online tool
• Submissions are assessed using the structured scoring framework
• The Authenticity Team reviews the submission, drawing on the scoring output, authoritative reference material and confirmation from authoritative sources
• A determination is reached following team review
What the tool should be used for
The Authenticity Scoring Tool should be used to:
• Submit pins for formal authenticity review
• Support cases where legitimacy is unclear or disputed
• Provide structured information to assist the Authenticity Team
• Contribute to a growing body of shared knowledge within Olympin
The tool does not provide automatic decisions or guarantees. All outcomes are subject to review by the Authenticity Team.
Once a submission has been reviewed
• The Authenticity Team will assess the information provided
• A determination will be reached using the scoring framework and verification against authoritative sources (such as confirmation from NOC etc.)
• As per previous years, outcomes will be published on the Olympin website to support transparency and shared understanding of legitimacy statuses
Accessing the tool
The Olympin Authenticity Scoring Tool is accessed via the below link:
https://olympinauthenticity.com
At this stage, the tool is intentionally hosted separately from the main Olympin website while it continues to evolve and be refined.
Clear guidance on how to submit pins and use the tool is provided within the platform itself.
Initial focus and ongoing development
The tool is being introduced in advance of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. During this initial phase, the primary focus will be on submissions relating to:
• National Olympic Committee (NOC) pins
• Federation pins
Media and sponsor pins may also be submitted, but the focus for this edition of the Games will be on NOC-related material.
The tool will continue to develop based on:
• Feedback from members
• Emerging reference material and knowledge
• Ongoing review by the Authenticity Team
For further information or support, please contact the Authenticity Team (Josh Waller & Tanya Ollick) at:
Authenticity@olympinclub.com