Scarce quality manufactured Secret Service guest badge #228 issued during the administration of President Ronald Reagan, measuring 1? in diameter, featuring a raised gold presidential seal in the center surrounded by a red enamel border emblazoned with the words “Presidential Guest.” Includes a letter of provenance on White House letterhead from NSC staffer Larry Branscum. In part: “The red enamel…’Presidential Guest’ pin #228, was used during the administration of President Ronald Reagan…It would have been issued to a guest traveling with the President. The pin was to be worn at all times on the lapel for quick identification purposes by the Secret Service…If the President had invited a friend or Member of the U.S. Congress, to be a guest on Air Force One, or at Camp David, etc., then a pin such as this would have been issued…so that the Secret Service agent could readily identify, at a glance, that such a person was permitted to closely approach or be with the President. The pins were tightly controlled and this was the purpose of the coded number (228). They were to be turned back in to the Secret Service at the end of the scheduled Presidential visit.” A highly monitored and prized collectible, secret service pins such as this remain nearly unobtainable to the private collector. From the Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection.
