Button pins have become increasingly collectible in the past few years, with markets such as our recent Projections Buzz reporting annual growth rates of 15% and beyond. Rare and vintage collectible button pins, such as those reflecting an historical event or cultural movement, have long been sought by collectors. This demonstrates the market for mega events in politics; a 1968 Democrat National Convention button pin recently sold at auction and went over $500.
Button pins are valued by specialists primarily for their nostalgia value They are often called "little canvases," by collectors that represent views and interests of the artist or fandom. Button pins happen to be such items, and they count as ephemera due to their small size and distinctive designs that make them collectible with a particular sentimental value. Bands from the 1970s have huge followings and any pins connected with these bands can easily sell for more than $200 each in collector websites.
According to the American Collectibles Association, 20 million Americans collect something, with button pins a wide niche audience. A survey found 25% of collectors developed their interest as teenagers, often influenced by pop culture or social movements. The parallel here is a quote by well-known collector and author David G. Becker, who said "Collecting is not just about getting" it's about preserving history".
Browsing through eBay, thousands of button pins are available in the marketplace — an indication that demand among consumers is high enough to warrant a large selection of different designs for such merchandise. Prices of standard pins are around $5 to $10, but limited editions can run into hundreds or thousands. The button pin collecting community is growing, as people start to realize the value of investing in some of them, with prices for certain collections increasing by hundreds to thousands of dollars over a span of just a decade.
Collectible Button Pins — A Recap The answer to the question whether or not button pins are a collectible is clearly…covered. With all this renewed interest, combined with its cultural relevance and some market parallels, buttons prove to be a collectible niche that continues its success. For aspiring button artists you can visit button pins to see how big this community is.