What is a military challenge coin??

Question

Can they be used only by military/vets or patriotic American's too?

Answer 1

They are unit coins and are traded and given out like baseball cards. (Boys toys never change do they?) I have a snipers coin and 173 rd ABN coins for sell @ $10 + postage. [e-mail]



God Bless You and The Southern People.

Answer 2

Today, there are many places to purchase challenge coins. A challenge coin is a small coin (or medallion) on which an organization’s insignia is engraved. This coin is then carried by the members of the group or organization for which the coin was made. This could be a police department, fire department,

college, fraternity, special club, and much more. They are given to prove membership of the challenged, and to boost the morale of those who are accepted or join said group. Service men and women also collect challenge coins, which may show recognition for a special achievement. Not many people know why military challenge coins are so important, and even fewer people know when they first originated. There are a few tales of where these coins first originated, each with its own appeal.
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Answer 3

A challenge coin is a large metal coin (about the size of a silver dollar - but thicker) that has different emblems on each side. Normally, these coins have unit insignia or commander/senior NCO rank on them. They are normally handed out by Commanders for immediate recognition of excellence. They serve to recognize servicemen who have done an exceptional job for a given task that normally wouldn't rise to the level of an award (something like best maintenance record, most improved PT score, exceptional rating on an inspection etc.) or they are often handed out by General Officers for impressive conduct or duty (like guard duty, military displays etc). Often unit commanders will issue a challenge for an upcoming event, and the award for winning the event is the coin. These have become very popular among enlisted soldiers over the last 10 or so years. While the military uses them extensively, they do not have exclusive rights or anything, and there is no regulation governing their distribution. I imagine that for motivational recognition, even employers could use them as an "Attaboy". The design of the coin is entirely up to the person making them and handing them out.

Answer 4

You can tell a purchased coin from a real coin because they will be missing something such as the rank of the person who issued it or company logo something like that the purchased coins are a bit more generic than a real coin. The coins are used usually at a dining in or a dining out. You walk up to a fellow service member at the bar and you drop the coin down (A.K.A. challenge them) they then have to produce a coin from a higher organization (If I had a company coin and you had a brigade coin). or a higher ranked individual. The superior coin wins and the loser buys the next round of drinks for the winner!

Answer 5

It is a device, normally cast in metal, which is unique for a military unit. It identifies the bearer as being in some was associaged with that unit. There are some traditions associated with the coins....in a bar...if one produces the coin..then all of the unit present are required to produce theirs....if they don't then those without coins must buy everyone with a coin a drink....if all have coins..the the challenger must buy...each unit as a unique coin. The practice started in Airborne units and grew...now...for the rest of the story...use old guys remember that .this started with a PropBlast card in the old Airborne units.

Answer 6

I have one but it's not from when I was in the Army. Where I work everyone is close and will help one another when needed. Our boss recognized how well we all work together and bought each of us a challenge coin. Everyone carries theirs and I won't be caught without mine.

On the literature that came with my coin was this excerpt
"Challenge Coins surfaced during the World War I era. The practice of carrying a coin designed specifically for a unit was popular with the Army Special Forces. Carrying the coin at all times and presenting it when "challenged" to prove affiliation with that unit resulted in a number of consequences for those who could not produce a coin - the most popular required the coinless soldier to buy a round of drinks. That practice continues to be popular today".

Answer 7

Depends on the coin ... Traditonaly a military challenge coin is given out by a unit commander or some one in the chain of command. they are given to A: a single soilder for doing a outstanding job, or B: a unit as a whole as a award for a misson well done.. What are they for? Weelll us grunts/squids/airmen take them into the bars and pull our challenge coin out and slap it on the table ... Who ever cannot answer our challenge by pulling out their own coin buys the next round...
Now days you can find Challenge coins for whole branchs of the military or reserve units ... also coins for certain missons... or events .... I've even seen Army Brat Challenge Coins ... Gonna get a set of those for my kids :P

Answer 8

There just coins with Unit Insignias, rank, or whatever. They are given out if you have gone above and beyond the call of duty or been noticed by someone higher up. Hell, sometimes they are given out just for the hell of it. My husband was given one by The Chief of Staff of the Army, General Schoomaker. Some you can buy and some you can't buy. (General Schoomakers you can't.)Hope this clears things up for ya! Here...you can read more about the history of the coins at this site.

Answer 9

To your question... Yes you can use them... they just originated in the military.

Second.. the true history of coins is they originally used the cut-off end of large caliber shell casings and inscribed their unit name or insignia on the case to show their unit pride... but, it started in Vietnam... and I got that from guys who were there....

Answer 10

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