Honorable Service Lapel Button Value Guide

The Honorable Service Lapel Button, colloquially known as the 'Ruptured Duck,' is a significant piece of WWII history awarded to U.S. veterans upon honorable discharge between 1943 and 1947. Beyond its symbolic value, it served a practical purpose by legally allowing veterans to wear their uniforms for thirty days post-service during a period of civilian clothing shortages.

What Is Honorable Service Lapel Button Worth?

The typical price range for Honorable Service Lapel Button is $10 - $15 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Physical condition of the gold plating and presence of any corrosion or heavy wear.
• Originality of the attachment mechanism on the reverse side.
• Market demand for WWII militaria, with typical prices ranging from $10 to $15.
• Historical provenance or inclusion with the veteran's original discharge papers and uniform.

How to Identify Honorable Service Lapel Button?

• Look for the distinct design featuring an eagle with wings outspread, perched within a circular wreath.
• Verify the material is brass, often featuring a gold plating that may show age-related patina.
• Check for the original lapel button backing designed to fit through a suit jacket buttonhole.
• Confirm the era by the specific 'awkward' eagle aesthetic that earned it its famous nickname.

History of Honorable Service Lapel Button

Commonly known as the Ruptured Duck due to the eagle's somewhat awkward appearance, this pin was issued to veterans of World War II to show they had been honorably discharged. It allowed them to continue wearing their military uniforms for up to thirty days after returning home, as civilian clothes were in short supply. The pin served as proof that the wearer was a veteran rather than a deserter or draft dodger.