maozhang.net

Other star shapes

Non-rayed star-shaped Maozhang are fairly uncommon. Perhaps they too closely resembled the PLA cap badge, or the shape was too inefficient in its use of aluminium. The conventionally shaped five-pointed red star did have one advantageous feature; like the hammer and sickle, it was an internationally recognised symbol of communism.

sshape2 02 sshape2 08 sshape2 07 sshape2 09 sshape2 09a

h. 23mm  w. 23mm   1.2g

h. 22mm  w. 23mm   1.0g

h. 20mm  w. 21mm   0.8g

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55mm    13.2g

Hong Kong Connection

It may be coincidental that the two Maozhang below, both of which feature prominent red stars and internationalist non-Cultural Revolution specific slogans, have strong associations with Hong Kong.

The badge at left, like an identical specimen in the British Museum (BM 255), was obtained in Hong Kong. Issued for May Day 1969, it carries the reverse inscription, "Workers of the World, Unite!"

The badge at right, issued for Army Day 1968, carries the reverse inscription, "Long Live the Success of the People's War" and the parenthesized character gang (an abbreviation for Hong Kong), which would seem to indicate its place of manufacture.

h. 49mm  w. 51mm    10.0g