Chinese Mao Zedong Lapel Pin

Red flag, shipyard, and a line of tiny characters beneath one calm head.

This Mao Zedong lapel pin is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Badges and lapel pins bearing Mao's face were produced by the billions, and Mao himself called a halt to production in 1969 because the metal used was seen as wasteful. Gold relief shapes a left-facing head in a red disc, with a small red banner billowing at the lower left. A ridged base holds tiny buildings and a row of stamped characters, with the surface slightly dulled by handling. It is 1.25 inches in diameter.

A good deal of lettering, for something this small.