It very well could be an authentic quill with simply the letters rubbed off or removed. Maybe a pawn shop thought it would sell better without the personal information on it, including the letters.
Or, it could be some sort of recognition pin that didn't have letters on it to begin with.
But, remember that this seller bought it off ebay a month ago and it had no date on it, so it was most definately a lie when the seller said, "This pin belonged to an elderly (94 years old) neighbor's sister. She said that her sister would wear it on a coat lapel and when she was wearing clothes inappropriate for the official badge. She commented that meant slacks in the "olden days.""
