I hope that you are finding the information on our webpage useful. I cannot believe that the Sochi Games are halfway over. We have been very busy.

We currently have 189 images of NOC pins that are either new or in use in Sochi. 131 of these pins are dated and the other 58 are generic. 127 of these pins have been either verified authentic by the NOCs or are previously authenticated generic pins. 17 pins are rated Questionable or worse and 45 pins are still awaiting verification.

Something new is that we have begun to add NGB (National Governing Body) pins. These are pins produced by the sports organizations within a country like the United States Luge Association or the Canadian Curling Association. There are images of 14 of these NGB pins, but the number is expected to grow rapidly. We are adding these pins because it is sometimes difficult to differentiate them from normal NOC team pins. For example, all of the Canadian NGB pins we’ve seen so far have the Canadian Olympic Committee logo. Please note that it is more difficult to authenticate these pins because the NOC often does not know which of their NGBs is producing pins. To a large degree, we have to go by whether a NGB pin was traded in Sochi by a participant in that sport. This is a work in progress and we will let you know more as time goes on.

For now, enjoy the remainder of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and stay tuned.

Steve

Our efforts to acquire images of legitimate pins prior to the start of the Games is paying off. As of this morning, we have pictures of 139 NOC pins that are either new or in use in Sochi. 101 of those pins are dated and 38 are generic. 106 are verified authentic and 7 have been repudiated by the NOCs. Here are the unauthorized pins:

New pins are appearing nearly every hour and it will be some time before our authentication process begins to catch up. Our recommendation is that collectors concentrate on the authenticated pins first and give us some additional time to get feedback on the ones that are currently in the Not Yet Rated category. Please check our Authenticity Project website frequently as we are updating ratings and adding new pins constantly. If you happen to see a pin that we don’t have listed, please email us an image at Illegal_Pin_Comm@comcast.net and we will post the picture and attempt to authenticate it.

Until later, enjoy the Games and, as always, stay tuned.

Steve

The Opening Ceremonies of the XXII Olympic Winter Games are underway in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia. But through the miracle of television, we won’t be seeing it here on the west coast of the United States for another 10 hours or so. Since I have some time to kill, I thought that I would update everyone on where the Authenticity Project stands as we head into the Olympics.

Our efforts to acquire images of legitimate pins prior to the start of the Games is paying off. As of this morning, we have pictures of 139 NOC pins that are either new or in use in Sochi. 101 of those pins are dated and 38 are generic. 106 are verified authentic and 7 have been repudiated by the NOCs. Here are the unauthorized pins:

New pins are appearing nearly every hour and it will be some time before our authentication process begins to catch up. Our recommendation is that collectors concentrate on the authenticated pins first and give us some additional time to get feedback on the ones that are currently in the Not Yet Rated category. Please check our Authenticity Project website frequently as we are updating ratings and adding new pins constantly. If you happen to see a pin that we don’t have listed, please email us an image at Illegal_Pin_Comm@comcast.net and we will post the picture and attempt to authenticate it.

Until later, enjoy the Games and, as always, stay tuned.

Steve