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HIS STORY COLLECTIONS PRESENTS
1966–1976 “Serve the People” Commemorative Badge
为人民服务纪念章 — PLA Henan Provincial Military District — GBCA MS68
A distinctive Cultural Revolution-era Chinese political and military badge bearing one of the most famous Mao-era slogans:
为人民服务
“Serve the People”
This example is especially interesting because the reverse is inscribed:
“Made by the Henan Provincial Military District of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army”
Professionally encapsulated and graded GBCA MS68, the badge measures approximately 35.9 mm and weighs 1.6 g.
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THE STORY
“Serve the People”
The phrase 为人民服务 (Wèi Rénmín Fúwù) — “Serve the People” — became one of the most recognizable political slogans of the Mao era.
The phrase was closely associated with Mao Zedong’s 1944 speech 《为人民服务》 (“Serve the People”), delivered in memory of the Communist soldier Zhang Side.
Over time, the slogan became deeply embedded in the political and institutional culture of the People’s Republic of China.
It appeared on:
* Badges
* Posters
* Banners
* Military material
* Public buildings
* Propaganda publications
* Everyday political objects
During the Cultural Revolution, it became particularly prominent as a statement of revolutionary service, loyalty and collective duty.
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PLA MILITARY DISTRICT CONNECTION
The reverse inscription identifies the piece with:
Henan Provincial Military District of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army
This is a significant detail.
Rather than being an anonymous commercially produced political badge, this example carries an institutional attribution linking it to a specific provincial PLA military organization.
That gives the piece additional historical and collecting interest.
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DESIGN
Obverse
The front features:
* Rectangular form
* Deep red enamel-style field
* Gilt-colored border
* Gilt-colored Chinese inscription
为人民服务
The gold-on-red color scheme is highly characteristic of Mao-era revolutionary design.
The compact elongated form would have allowed the badge to be worn prominently on clothing.
Reverse
The reverse retains:
* Original pin mechanism
* Gilt-colored metal surface
* Institutional inscription
This translates approximately as:
“Made by the Henan Provincial Military District of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army”
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ITEM DETAILS
Country: China
Period: People’s Republic of China
Historical Era: Cultural Revolution
Date Attribution: 1966–1976
Type: Political / Military Commemorative Badge
Chinese Name: 为人民服务纪念章
Main Inscription: 为人民服务
English Translation: Serve the People
Reverse Inscription: />
Attributed Organization: Henan Provincial Military District, People’s Liberation Army
Diameter / Size Reference: 35.9 mm
Weight: 1.6 g
Certification Company: GBCA / 公博
Grade: MS68
Certification Number: 5110155843
Holder: GBCA encapsulated holder
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GBCA CERTIFICATION
This piece has been encapsulated and graded by GBCA (公博).
Certification No. 5110155843
The GBCA verification record identifies the item as:
1966–76
为人民服务纪念章
MS68
直径 35.9 mm
重 1.6 g
The date, description, dimensions and grade in this listing follow the third-party certification information shown.
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WHY THIS PIECE STANDS OUT
Many Mao-era badges display general revolutionary slogans.
This example is more specific because the reverse provides a clear organizational attribution.
Its appeal comes from the combination of:
* Iconic “Serve the People” slogan
* Cultural Revolution dating
* PLA military connection
* Henan Provincial Military District attribution
* Red-and-gold enamel design
* Original pin fitting
* High GBCA MS68 grade
* Third-party encapsulation
That combination gives the badge stronger historical context than a generic political slogan piece.
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Cultural Revolution period, 1966–1976, was one of the most politically intense decades in modern Chinese history.
Political slogans were incorporated into daily life at an extraordinary scale.
Badges like this were not merely decorative objects. They were part of a broader visual culture of:
* Revolutionary identity
* Political education
* Institutional loyalty
* Military symbolism
* Mass political participation
Today, these objects are studied and collected as artifacts of PRC political, military and social history.
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COLLECTING INTEREST
This badge may appeal to collectors of:
* Chinese Cultural Revolution memorabilia
* PLA military badges
* Mao-era political objects
* PRC historical artifacts
* Chinese enamel badges
* Henan military history
* Revolutionary slogans
* Political visual culture
* Certified Chinese memorabilia
* 20th-century Asian history
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CONDITION
Certified GBCA MS68.
The red field remains visually strong with clear gilt-colored lettering and border.
The reverse retains its pin mechanism and institutional inscription.
Please inspect all photographs carefully, as the exact certified item pictured is the item being offered.
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COLLECTOR NOTE
The date attribution of 1966–1976 follows GBCA certification.
The reverse inscription identifies the piece with the Henan Provincial Military District of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
No claim is made that the badge belonged to a specific soldier, officer or named historical individual unless independent provenance is available.
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AUTHENTICITY & IMPORTANT NOTICE
This item is offered as a GBCA-certified historical collectible.
The date, identification, dimensions and grade follow the third-party certification record.
The institutional attribution is based on the inscription visible on the reverse of the badge.
His Story Collections does not independently guarantee historical attribution beyond the certification and physical evidence presented.
This item is sold solely for historical, educational and collecting purposes. Its sale does not imply endorsement of any political ideology, historical figure or movement represented by the object.
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HSC — PRESERVING PIECES OF HISTORY
At His Story Collections, we preserve objects that provide tangible connections to the institutions, ideas and events that shaped history.
Some objects tell the story of rulers.
Others tell the story of armies, governments and ordinary people.
Each survives as a physical record of its time.
Preserve the object. Study the history.
