Chinese Mao Zedong Circular Lapel Pin

Head above, open book and flowers below, all packed into one red circle.

This Mao Zedong circular lapel pin is from China, and dates to the 20th century. It is metal. Propaganda posters of the era generally pictured a utopian society, with smiling farmers, brave soldiers and happy people gathered around Mao, who was cast as a benevolent father and wise teacher. Thin gilded rim and a red field define this small round badge. A raised head faces left in the upper half. Beneath it, a small open book and a spray of tiny blossoms are modeled in gold, with a few dark crevices. It is 1.25 inches in diameter.

A lot of narrative for something the size of a button.