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People Republic of China
Medal to Commemorate The Successful Trial Production
of The First Domestically Produced Combined Coal Mining Machine
(Full Size)
中華人民共和國
聯合採煤機首次試製成功獎章
(官方版)
Item number: M250
Year: AD 1955
Size: 70.8 x 40.0 x 1.7 mm
Weight: 19.25 g
Provenance: Katz Auction 2024
This is a medal awarded in AD 1955 by the newly established People’s Republic of China to commemorate the successful trial production of the first domestically produced combined coal mining machine. The medal was issued in the name of the “Ministry of Coal Mining” to honour the individuals involved. It is worn on the left side of the chest, pinned between two square plates, with the ribbon coloured bright red with a central gold stripe.
The obverse side of the medal features a red star against a background of silver rays. At the centre of the red star is a gold emblem of the newly developed coal mining machine. Surrounding the emblem is a circle formed by golden gears and ears of rice, symbolising the working class and the peasantry. The year “1955,” marking the successful trial production of the machine, is also inscribed.
The reverse side of the medal features two lines of text from top to bottom. The first line states the reason for the award, “Successful Trial Production of the First Combined Coal Mining Machine,” and the second line identifies the awarding authority, “Ministry of Coal Mining.” Both lines are written in traditional Chinese characters, as the People’s Republic of China did not officially implement simplified characters until AD 1956. Below the text, there is a number, “1065,” indicating the medal’s serial number.
The design and awarding concept of this medal exemplify the profound influence of the Soviet Union on the early years of the People’s Republic of China. As the first socialist state, the Soviet Union emphasised the nobility of labour and collectivism, transforming the traditional European medal system—previously reserved for nobility and military achievements—into a means of rewarding the working and peasant classes for their contributions to state construction. The Chinese Communist Party, even before establishing the PRC, emulated the Soviet reward system in their controlled areas. After the establishment of the PRC, this practise was expanded to boost economic development and reinforce the ideology of collectivism.
In AD 1953, with Soviet assistance, the newly established People’s Republic of China formulated its “First Five-Year Plan,” with increasing coal production being a crucial task for industrialisation and modernisation. In AD 1952, in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang Province, which has the highest coal reserves, a new type of combined coal mining machine was used for the first time with direct assistance from Soviet experts. By AD 1955, the total number of combined coal mining machines in the country had reached 46, including two domestically produced units. By AD 1956, the number of domestically produced combined coal mining machines had grown to 37, making a significant contribution to the coal production of the PRC.