Post war OSS veteran's pin

[Tonomachi]

This just sold on eBay for a record price of $2,042.00 (see link).  These were mailed to former members of the OSS with a certificate after the war to prove that the recipient was once a member of the OSS.  I remember when these were selling for what I thought at the time was a pretty high price of $300.00 for a post war piece that was never worn during the war.  The enameling on this piece is cracked and a small chuck is even missing.  

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225002830906?mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5335821211&customid=&toolid=10001&nma=true&si=sncm4bYU8MPKvEWJjd0eGQNWaH4%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

 

 

 

[AustinO]

Wow! I bought one from the daughter of the veteran a couple months ago for $350, which I considered retail.  

 

The two bidders "fighting" over it above the $370 mark both have pretty low feedback scores, makes me wonder if shill bidding played a part here (though the sellers other items don't really show signs of it). 

[DavidM]

Makes me want to put mime on Ebay!

[manayunkman]

You had to send away for these after filling out some paperwork.

 

They are fairly rare.

 

 

 

 

[316th FS 324th FG]

I have been looking for one in the 3-400 range for the last 6 months to no avail!

[manayunkman]

3 hours ago, 316th FS 324th FG said:

I have been looking for one in the 3-400 range for the last 6 months to no avail!

What prices have you seen? 

[ocsfollowme]

Worthpoint tells me that in the last 4-5 years these bring $600-1000. 

[manayunkman]

I’ll pay $700 for one.

[316th FS 324th FG]

17 hours ago, manayunkman said:

What prices have you seen? 

Last two I saw were $900

[mortaydc60]

At SOS afew years ago had trouble selling for 300 ,go figure.

[AustinO]

I reconnected with the daughter of my OSS veteran over the summer, she found this wooden plaque in a box in her basement and wanted me to have it.  I was also able to get a few small paper items/photos from her. Per his NARA file (which they sent for free to me, OSS is housed separately in DC) he was a motor pool NCO for OSS in England. 

 

[DavidM]

 Very nice.  Thanks for sharing!

[316th FS 324th FG]

On 10/10/2022 at 1:52 PM, AustinO said:

I reconnected with the daughter of my OSS veteran over the summer, she found this wooden plaque in a box in her basement and wanted me to have it.  I was also able to get a few small paper items/photos from her. Per his NARA file (which they sent for free to me, OSS is housed separately in DC) he was a motor pool NCO for OSS in England. 

 

Austin, tried sending you a DM in re the NARA file but it couldnt go through. I have a quick q for you when you have a minute in DMs.

[AustinO]

On 1/7/2025 at 9:41 AM, 316th FS 324th FG said:

Austin, tried sending you a DM in re the NARA file but it couldnt go through. I have a quick q for you when you have a minute in DMs.

Cleared out my inbox, should be good to send now. 

[parrothead76]

On 6/1/2022 at 5:37 PM, Tonomachi said:

These were mailed to former members of the OSS with a certificate after the war to prove that the recipient was once a member of the OSS. 

I've got the certificate but no pin. There was an option to choose between 2 different types of pins. Apparently, my grandpa chose not to mail it in lol

[34Rangers]

Could anyone please give me more information on this OSS pin?

[parrothead76]

@34Rangers  Do you have a photo of the back of it? 

 

It does not have a white outline like others, so I would imagine it is not wartime/immediate postwar (at least not officially issued). Nor is not the 2nd type of 1945/46 OSS veterans label pin as also offered. 

[Tonomachi]

I found this online two days before Christmas which was described as, "Vintage Post War Office of Strategic Services OSS Veterans Lapel Pin".  However what shocked me was the asking price of $10.00 which was basically a buy it now price as this online site does not have a bidding process like eBay.   At first I thought that maybe someone was reproducing these but based on the photographs it looked genuine.  So I couldn't buy it fast enough and was still a little worried that it might not be real until I could examine it in my hands.  Well it arrived in the mail yesterday and it is the real McCoy.  The seller obviously did not know its value and I got myself my own Christmas present.  So there are still bargains out there.