What kind of pin is this

[fano169]

It looks like a hat pin ?
How old?

 

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[muncle]

Looks to be a "Coat of Arms" depiction. What's the back like?

 

[Frankyg]

First impression, no evidence just gut feeling is that it's German, perhaps Prussian.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think you need to clean it and use better lighting. Natural daylight is best.

 

[fano169]

Looks to be a "Coat of Arms" depiction. What's the back like?

Plain smooth back

 

[muncle]

Hard to tell from the back if it had a pin attachment. Looks to be a bit heavy for a hat pin too. Has similarities to this Coat of Arms.

 

[Sentrom]

It looks like two Hercules supporters on each side of a coat of arms. I think it looks a bit like the royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Greece. Hard to tell if above the coat of arms is a crown. Better pictures are needed.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

it is definitely the Seal of New York City. See button NY-102 in the button-book by Alphaeus H. Albert. On the button, the Seal has a spread-winged eagle sitting on a half-globe atop a spade-shaped shield showing a windmill. The shield is flanked by an Indian and a Colonial Sailor. You can view a modernday depiction of the New York City Seal here: Seal of New York City - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sentrom]

Arm position on the left supporter is incorrect for the Seal of New York City. But correct for an Antique New York City Police Hat Cap Badge.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Arm position on the left supporter is incorrect for the Seal of New York City. But correct for an Antique New York City Police Hat Cap Badge.

Do you have a pic? When I search Antique New York City Police Hat Cap Badge I get a different eagle. New York City Transit Police Cap Badge (obsolete) | BadgeSwap

 

[Sentrom]

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

View attachment 737602

It looks like the right sailor but the wrong eagle.

 

[Sentrom]

to me it looks like Fano169's eagles head is missing.

 

[nhbenz]

I agree. But the eagle's right wing (at left) is drooped, while Fano's eagle appears to have had both wings spread. I don't know if it's merely a matter of the transit police having a different variant? There seems to be a variety out there, including housing authority officials, etc. but right now my power has been on and off, so no time to look further.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The original pics are poor but the design under the shield is also different.

Its definitely a variation of the New York City seal. Exactly what and for what years is still unknown.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I havent read it but there are at least 8 different versions according to this cool link. Manhattan Unlocked: Decoding the Seals of the City of New York

A study of the current and past seals of New York City is an excellent way to learn the fundamentals of city history--ever wonder about the obscure symbols on the Municipal Building? Or why the seal appears differently from one building to another? The seal has a very rich, complex history, and counting every change, under the Dutch, the English, and then as free New Yorkers, we've had at least eight different versions in Manhattan's time.

The sailor is not holding a supporter but a plummet used for neasuring water depths.