Maltese cross

Occasional use of the modern form straight-edged "eight-pointed cross" by the order begins in the early 16th century.

[3] Emergence of the sharp vertex of the modern "four-arrowhead" design is gradual, and takes place during the 15th to 16th century.

The fully modern design is found on a copper coin dated 1567, minted by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette (r.

[4] In 1577, Alonso Sanchez Coello painted Archduke Wenceslaus of Austria as Grand Prior of the Order of Malta wearing the emblem on his robes.

It is shown on a copper coin dated 1693, minted under Grand Master Adrien de Wignacourt.

[6] The British colony of Queensland, Australia, adopted the Maltese cross as the state badge and on the flag in 1876 for reasons unknown, its use continuing through to statehood.

[7] The eight points of the eight-pointed cross have been given a number of symbolic interpretations, such as representing the eight Langues of the Knights Hospitaller (Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castille and Portugal, Italy, Germany, and the British Isles).

[citation needed][year needed] An undated leaflet published by The Venerable Order's main service organisation, St John Ambulance, has also applied secular meanings to the points as representing the traits of a good first aider.

[13] In the United States today, some helipads still remain bearing their original Maltese cross emblems.

The vessel classification society for the United States, the American Bureau of Shipping, will assign the Maltese cross symbol to vessels and offshore units for which the hull construction and/or the manufacture of its machinery and components and any associated required testing, as applicable, is carried out under ABS survey.

[17] The Geneva drive, a device that translates a continuous rotation into an intermittent rotary motion, is also sometimes called a "Maltese cross mechanism" after the shape of its main gear.

A five-armed variant is the "Cross" of the French Legion of Honour (Croix de la Légion d'honneur).