Badge

A badge is a mark or emblem, often containing the insignia of an organization. It is presented or displayed to indicate a rank, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and firefighter), or a membership of a society. 

Pilgrimage was important for Christians in medieval Europe – people travelled long distances to visit a saint’s shrine. Pilgrim badges were affordable so everyone could have a memento of their trip.

St George's badge, a red cross on white background, became a symbol of England. It was emblazoned on the standards of the army, who were fighting the French in the Hundred Years War., and on the English flag.

Police badges date back to medieval times when knights wore a coat of arms representing their allegiances and loyalty.

Police officers are referred to as "cops" because of the copper badges they used to wear.

Birmingham City Police

During World War 1, the British created a campaign to shame men into enlisting. Women would hand out white feathers to men not in uniform and berate them as cowards. The it was so successful that the government had to create badges for men in critical occupations so they would not be harassed.

In Hitler's Germany, the government would give badges to "mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent". The highest class was a Gold Cross, for eligible mothers with eight or more children.

Elvis Presley's manager sold "I Hate Elvis" badges as a way to make money from people who weren't buying Elvis merchandise.

The Girl Scouts had a "Computing Fun" badge in the 1980s that featured the binary code 00111 10011 on its patch. This translated to 7 and 19, and when mapped onto the order of the alphabet stands for G S, the Girl Scouts.