US Steel Corporation Long Service Pins

After about 1960 USS ended their practice of issuing long service fobs. The company continued their long service awards tradition in the form of gold lapel pins which also came in the form of tie pins and charms on chains for the ladies. The pin versions exist as screw backs, clutch backs and hinged pin backs. The awards are for 25 to 50 years of service in five year increments. All those that I have seen are in 10 k gold and weigh 2.4 grams as a charm without any kind of pin on the back. All the designs share the same basic design elements featuring a torch on which a USS shield rests above the number of years served. At the bottom in gold letters on a black enamel field is the company name "UNITED STATES STEEL CORP." or which ever subsidiary the recipient worked for. Now that the price of gold has become too expensive the awards are gold plated or "gold filled".