Officer Warfare Pins Appraisal

United States Surface Warfare Insignia (Officer/Gold)

This is a United States Navy Surface Warfare Insignia, colloquially known as 'Surface Warfare Pins' or 'SWO Pins'. This specific version is finished in a polished gold tone, indicating it is intended for Commissioned Officers or Chief Petty Officers. The design features a centralized representation of a bow-on views of a modern warship (specifically a Leahy-class cruiser hull design) superimposed over two crossed naval sabers. The background is embellished with stylized sea waves. The item appears to be metallic, likely brass or gold-plated base metal, and measures approximately 2.75 inches in width. The craftsmanship shows high-relief detailing, particularly in the pommels of the sabers and the curvature of the waves. Condition-wise, the insignia shows light surface wear, with minor tarnish or patina visible in the recesses of the sea waves and around the saber guards, which is typical for handled militaria. There are no visible maker's marks on the front; such marks (like Vanguard or H&H) are typically found on the reverse. Based on the hull design, this specific pattern has been in use since 1975.