Pin, Soviet Scientific Heritage, Copernicus

Pins or znachki have a long and established Russian tradition. During the 19th century, workers received these pins as a reward for work done. It was during the Soviet period that the emphasis on the use of znachki shifted from rewarding work done to acting as souvenirs of national celebrations. By the late 1960s, schoolchildren began to collect and exchange the pins with foreigners. Today, space-themed znachki are popular among collectors worldwide. People of all ages wear the pins to celebrate and acknowledge anniversaries, programs and individuals of the space program.

This pin is one of a set of nine pins that honors the heritage of science, astronomy and space exploration by identifying nine leading scientists in the field throughout history. This pin features Nicolaus Copernicus.