Challenge Coins

[unixken]

Ah-ha, well done Geoff, you have brought up a point that I was wondering about. So to be clear here and as an example, if I was with a group of Marines and the challenge is made with their Marine coin, then I would be OK with my MacLeod coin? What is the form for those that have no challenge coin (I don't mean that they have forgotten it, but they just do not have one)?

Thank you every one for the advice given and yes, I can see that things could get expensive!

That's not the way I understood the challenge coin concept. I believe the intent is to offer proof of a given affiliation. Not whether you carry a round piece of metal in your pocket.

If I claimed to be a Marine, and you called me on it, and I could produce a Marine challenge coin, "the challenge" would be satisfied and you'd owe me a drink. But if all I could show was a coin produced for a totally unrelated organization, the challenge (against my claim of being a Marine) has not been met, and I would owe you the drink.

EDIT: On the other hand, if I went to the pub and asked "Who has a challenge coin?", that would be different, as "the challenge" was not about affiliation with a specific group, but rather, whether you had "a coin".

[HootinHoller]

As unofficial things are, the 'rules' vary widely similar to who can wear a tartan. My understanding is that challenge coins started as a drinking game within units, and have spread haphazardly. When I was in the Navy, neither the sub I rode nor the survey ship I rode had challenge coins. I do carry an FAA Command Center coin (the Command Center is the top tier of active flight control in US controlled airspace) I got while working there.

I would buy into an X-Marks coin! I suggest the X-Marks clan badge on the obverse and dandelion on the reverse? They can be minted for about $5 US each.

[Mel1721L]

That's not theI understood the challenge coin concept. I believe the intent is to offer proof of a given affiliation. Not whether you carry a round piece of metal in your pocket.

If I claimed to be a Marine, and you called me on it, and I could produce a Marine challenge coin, "the challenge" would be satisfied and you'd owe me a drink. But if all I could show was a coin produced for a totally unrelated organization, the challenge (against my claim of being a Marine) has not been met, and I would owe you the drink.

EDIT: On the other hand, if I went to the pub and asked "Who has a challenge coin?", that would be different, as "the challenge" was not about affiliation with a specific group, but rather, whether you had "a coin".

But you can buy these on ebay, so a challenge coin doesn't really proove anything.

[djstaehlin]

But you can buy these on ebay, so a challenge coin doesn't really proove anything.

Very true. Even the rare ones that are given out very selectively can end up on Ebay having been sold off by the original recipient or their heir. I have about 30 challenge coins. Only two were presented to me. The others I've purchased as keeps sakes. They're displayed in my home office and are symbols of many of my past and current affiliations. I've never felt the need to carry any with me, with the sole exception of Thank You for Your Service coins from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. I carry those to give them to members of the armed forces and veterans I meet.

[Mel1721L]

Very true. Even the rare ones that are given out very selectively can end up on Ebay having been s
off by the original recipient or their heir. I have about 30 challenge coins. Only two were presented to me. The others I've purchased as keeps sakes. They're displayed in my home office and are symbols of many of my past and current affiliations. I've never felt the need to carry any with me, with the sole exception of Thank You for Your Service coins from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. I carry those to give them to members of the armed forces and veterans I meet.

I never carry any of mine they are extremely rare amongst British Armed Forces and veterans, so the chance of ever meeting someone with one, even if I still lived in the UK would be on a par to winning the lottery.

[unixken]

The coins, whether one chooses to carry one or not, can be fun to collect, though. Four or five additional coins have been added since the pic was taken, but this rack is on the wall of my living room.

Challenge Coins.jpg

[AFS1970]

I never really knew the background behind the challenge. Interesting because earlier in the year I got an e-mail at work that a coworker was ordering them and did I want in on the order. I thought about it but finally decided that it was more something for that coworkers division than mine.

I do have one, it was given to me by a complete stranger that I found myself drinking with at a Scottish festival. He and I were talking over single malts and discovered we had been involved at different phases of the same operation at an emergency scene and he took the coin from his sporran and gave it to me. I have never seen him again but I also missed the next two years of that festival, only returning this year. Because of the fact that I do not know how this one was made, ordered or given out (except my own story) I can honestly not see anyone ever questioning me on the issue, nor can I see my possession of the coin as proof of where I was or what I did.

[Steve Ashton]

When I was in the Marine Corps, way back when, we viewed such things as Challange Coins to be an Army thing. We felt that as Marines, we did not need anything to prove we were Marines. One Marine would never think of challenging another Marine. If you had a token of a unit with who you were in combat with you may have had a cigarette lighter with the unit crest and dates on it. You would not 'challange' anyone with it but simply lay it on a bar in plain sight for all to see. These were never commented on but may be recognized with the offer of a drink.

Later in the Army we had many things which we called "Gimmies". These included stickers, patches, plaques, mugs and coins. Each had our unit emblem on them and were given to our hosts whenever we visited somewhere.
For example, if we flew into a civilian airfield and bought fuel we would give the guys a sticker or coin as a way of saying thanks. They could then display these on a window or a rack in their place of business.
Much like Police Officers or Firemen trade patches or badges when visiting another Station.

The name 'Gimmies" came to mean any item of small monetary value that you give away as a souvenir.

For a more significant gift, say to a host who went above or beyond to make us welcome, or provided some extra or valuable service, we would present them with a plaque or mug. Some of these cost hundreds of dollars and became something which the recipient could display with pride in their office.

So to me Challenge Coins are a small token presented to someone as thanks or out of respect.

[Mel1721L]

The coins, whether one chooses to carry one or not, can be fun to collect, though. Four or five additional coins have been added since the pic was taken, but this rack is on the wall of my living room.

Challenge Coins.jpg

You may be interested in these: http://www.awardmedals.com/challenge...c-628_629.html

[Cardinal]

I know the traditions that have grown up around these, but I've never actually seen anybody challenged in my 31 years of uniformed service.

Has anybody ever actually seen a coin check?

Regards,
Cardinal