UNTOUCHED PIN

Not only is this pin intricately crafted, it looks almost brand new. Likely a “king pin” from the game ninepin, it’s possible that this example saw gameplay but was never felled. The king pin is placed in the middle of the nine-pin deck. Knocking down nine pins would garner nine points. But knocking down eight pins and leaving the king pin standing would earn twelve points. Today, most ninepin alleys in the U.S. have disappeared, but a few still operate in Texas.