Insignia pin of the Organización de Pioneros José Martí (OPJM)

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Insignia pin of the Organización de Pioneros José Martí (OPJM)

Entry/Object ID

2025.19.4

Description

Small circular gilt-metal badge with colored enamel. The central device is a red flame of several tongues rising above a red triangle that bears a white five-pointed star, crossed at its base by a blue band lettered "JOSE MARTI," the triangle's lower point in blue; this sits on a green ground flanked by gold laurel branches within a plain gilt rim. The reverse is gilt, embossed "HECHO EN CUBA," and fitted with a soldered safety-pin–style brooch clasp.

Collection

Elaine Acosta collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.19

Source or Donor

Elaine Acosta

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker: Unidentified Cuban manufacturer (state production); marked only "Hecho en Cuba." The design is the official emblem of the Organización de Pioneros José Martí. Date: Undated. Postdates the 1977 adoption of the "José Martí" name; cannot be confirmed within 1959–1990 and may fall outside the upper bound. Tentative bracket: 1977 onward.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Obverse: "JOSE MARTI" on the blue band Reverse: "HECHO EN CUBA" (embossed); no other maker's mark observed

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Gold-plated copper-alloy/brass; colored enamel or enamel-paint fill (green, red, blue, white); metal pin clasp. Technique: Die-struck metal with enamel fill (champlevé- or painted-enamel under a gilt finish); soldered brooch pin-back.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Elaine Acosta

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

OPJM

Research Notes

Notes

The OPJM is Cuba's mass children's/adolescent organization (grades 1–9), with a lineage running Unión de Pioneros Rebeldes (1961) → Unión de Pioneros de Cuba (1962) → Organización de Pioneros José Martí (1977). The emblem's symbolism is officially fixed: the red triangle and solitary star for blood shed and Cuban sovereignty, the blue triangle for the homeland's sky, the triangle's three vertices for "study, work, and fight," and the flame's tongues for the Party (PCC), the Young Communists (UJC), and the Pioneers (OPJM).

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

August 25, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 14, 2026