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How to know if an AP pin is legit?

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How to know if an AP pin is legit?
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DoomScarf

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I was wondering, how do you know if an "Artist Proof" version of a pin is legit? Have there been fake AP pins before? I'm asking as there's a supposed AP version of a pin on the bay I'm interested in. I messaged the seller asking for a photo of the back and they told me their phone line is currently down so they can't provide a photo at the time but will hopefully get one up soon. They also said they bought the pin as a set of 3 AP pins directly from Disney, one with a silver back (already sold), one with a black back (the one up for sale now) and one with a gold back.
 
I believe there have been instances of people "faking" the AP and PP symbols. But in this case, it sounds like the pin is from a Disneystore.com sale. In previous years, they have released sets of 3 versions of pins (one in each metal type). People were hoping for another sale this year, but no luck.

Here are a couple threads for you:

http://disneypinforum.com/showthread.php?5601-Artist-Proof-(AP)-and-Pre-Production-(PP)-Pins-Guide-and-FAQ%92s

[URL]http://disneypinforum.com/showthread.php?2631-Too-good-to-be-true-Please-help-with-an-LE-1-AP-pin![/URL]
 

Thank you for the links. The seller told me they'd picked them up at a Disney event so I'm not sure if they mean one in the parks or online...
 
ok as an experiment I tried using a metal stamp on a scrapper... it cracked the snot out of the front of the pins finish.

so to emboss the AP or PP stamp on a pinback other than the laser enscribed ones will leave marks in the finish. In my opinion.

with the number of Ap pins released last year or so Im guessing real.

and a cool pin!!!!
 
scrappers that give their lives to help pin science

finally a use for em.

it was a counterfeit of vinylmation werewolf
 
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Please note that Disney has sold AP in sets of Silver / Black / Gold as AP Mystery sets on Disney Auctions / Shopping as well as giving them out as prizes / bonus items at Disney events.

Other than the unique back metals, many of these pins will not have any other identifying marks on their back. They were originally intended as a set of 3 unique items - many of these sets have (sadly) been broken up by traders looking only to maximize thier "return" on a one of a kind investment.

Pins were called "mystery" in that you purchased them sight unseen and they were revealed when you got them from Disney Shipping. I remember my delight in opening the box and finding not only a Tink I had missed but getting the LE1 set of her to boot. Of course, for each one of those, there were the occasional Ollie/Baloo pin that would welcome a good more loving home.
 
Since the one available for sale is black metal, and the regular version of that pin is listed as being goldtone metal on Pinpics, it seems legit.

-JD
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, the seller has sent me a couple pictures (including the back.) I can show them to you so anyone who owns this pin can check the back is correct. I'm 99.9% convinced right now, just need that 0.1% lol!

FYI, the pin is [PinPics]61548[/PinPics]
 
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Here are some photos, the AP mark is above the Mickey head and to the left of the "Limited Edition 250" box:



 
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The number 66211 is the item number that the Disney Store uses online. It is not a Disney Auctions number, because those pins always started with the letters DA before the numbers they had on the cards. Being a Disney Store online item means that it was shipped and not bought at a booth at an event. It sounds like the mystery AP sets to me and I do not know how else to get these other than from Disney Shopping Online. That is all I know.
 

I've heard they can show up at Disney events in the park and the like...
 
Well, with Disney, anything is possible. They could have had some AP mystery pins for sale and this is how they got the pin.

We have recently seen pins that were supposedly "exclusive" to San Francisco, here in Miami lately, so there is a bit of anything goes too when it comes to Disney.
 
I know what you mean. I never try to get an AP pin, but if a pin I like is available to me only as an AP, it is definitely a bonus.

Your pin looks good in both the front and the back of the pictures, so I am sure it will be great.
 
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