A wrist pin is provided for connecting a connecting rod to a piston, comprising a cylindrical aluminum pin having an outer cylindrical surface, the pin being matingly insertable into a bore of a piston, the outer cylindrical surface having an anodized coating applied thereto. A process for manufacturing a wrist pin is also provided, comprising the steps of machining a cylindrical pin, having an outer cylindrical surface, from aluminum stock; and applying an anodized coating to the outer cylindrical surface. The preferred anodized coating comprises a hardcoat anodized coating.