Challenge coins

[jlava]

Morning all,
Not exactly official issue, but they have some importance ...
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A Brief History of Challenge Coins

Challenge coins were originally used by Special Forces to recognize soldiers for outstanding acts, to boost morale, and to build camaraderie. Today, challenge coins are in use by several hundred military and law enforcement units.

Traditionally, "coining" was executed to see if fellow soldiers were carrying thier unit's coin. In the Viet Nam era this tradition was modified slightly so that the loser of the challenge was obligated to buy a round of drinks.

Here's an example of how it might work.

1. A coin challenge is initiated by either drawing your coin and holding it in the air, or slamming it on a table and yelling "Coin Check!"
2. The individual or individuals who are challenged must respond by drawing their own coin and showing it to the challenger.
3. If any member is challenged and is unable to brandish a coin, that person must buy a round of drinks for everyone being challenged, including the challenger.
4. According to several sources, coin checks are permitted anywhere and anytime.

[jlava]

[Dave Danner]

A coin check has a bit of a gambling component. If someone doesn't have his coin, he buys. However, if everyone has his, the challenger buys. So don't initiate a coin check unless you're sure someone doesn't have his, or you have a little money to spare.

Dave

[jlava]

No one has images of their challenge coins?

[Ken Jasper]

Unfortunately I don't have the capability of posting images, but mine are all intelligence related. The rarest are from USSTRATCOMJ5 and USSTRATCOM Theater Plans Division (J55 Theater Mafia). Don't run into these guys everyday.

[Dave Danner]

A related article:

Army Names 'Hall of Coins' to Officer Killed at Pentagon

Dave

[jlava]

neat article ...
makes my small colection look like a joke...
the challenge coins make for a cool colletion...cheap, visual and each different...

[Dave Danner]

The only worrisome area and caveat is that like baseball cards, coins are being produced specifically with collectors rather than the units in mind. They are also becoming gaudier, to judge by many of the ones I see on eBay.

Dave

[Dave Danner]

Here are a few coins of mine:

<img src="http://home.att.net/~ordersandmedals/challenge_coins_1.jpg">

<img src="http://home.att.net/~ordersandmedals/challenge_coins_2.jpg">

<u>Top row</u>: Infantry Training Brigade Commander's coin; 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (US Army Reserve)
<u>Bottom row</u>: US Army Training and Doctrine Command Commanding General's coin; US Army OCS; 36th Engineer Group Commander's Coin of Excellence.

11th Group actually created the first challenge coin in the 1960s; 10th Group picked up the idea and other SF ran with it.

Dave

[jlava]

The "award" coins seem to be more cool in my eye....the 101st coin of mine for Air Assault is from the uniform shop as is the 82nd and 18th airborne corps...more of a baseball card like coin described I imagine....the others from the 25th divb are more of an award coin I was told.
jason