Anyone have their own Military Challenge Coins?
jesbroken
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This is the one I received in honor of our Military Base shutting down at Hahn Air Base Germany. My nephew, who was born there, lives in Yugoslavia, went by there and got my brother and I(we were stationed there at the same time) this challenge coin. Never had one while on active duty(didn't know they existed then or I would have had one for sure). I got most of my XF and lower Buffalo Nickels out of the slot machines at the NCO club. Hope some of you have some with stories of how you came by them and what base you were at when you received it.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
6
Comments
Hope to see more of these. Thanks for your service.
Got this one at the end of my tour in 2004
8 Reales Madness Collection
I think a lot of "challenge coins" really are commemorative in nature. The concept that having one "proves" affiliation with the base/group/event is probably only wishful thinking.
I have a few "coins", patches, and decals that were given out for different events and/or groups.
There are a number of regulations and guidelines when it comes to military coins. Commanders may only award unit coins to soldiers, DA Civilian Employees, and DA agencies to recognize excellence in an Army competition/activity or to recognize a unique accomplishment that furthers the efficiency and effectiveness of the Army’s mission (IAW AR 600-8-22 and AR 672-20). Commanders cannot present unit coins to individuals for merely performing his or her regularly assigned duties or give coins to contract employees, volunteers, or non-Federal government agencies. Commanders are also prohibited from presenting unit coins purchased with appropriated funds to their peers, superiors, as a contribution to a personal coin collection, or to be placed on going-away gifts.
The information above primarily applies to official Unit Coins purchased with appropriated funds. For coins purchased with nonappropriated funds, there's a different regulation (AR 215-1).
Then there's the "I used my own cash to privately order some challenge coins to give as I see fit" type of challenge coins.
8 Reales Madness Collection
I have many challenge coins; all received as @TwoKopeiki stated. You are correct that having one only proves that you have one. But I would have to challenge your blanket statement that they are only commemorative in nature. True challenge coins are awarded by commanders and other senior leaders. Commemoratives are just that. A token, rather than a challenge coin, highlighting an event. I have an AF Sergeant's Association coin because I belong to the group. But it's not a challenge coin. Challenge coins are earned, tokens are giveaways.
Cheers
Bob
Well said.
I'll accept that. I have seen both variations in use....
The difficulty, then, is identifying which are just tokens or commemoratives, and which are earned and indicative of something special. The collector usage seems to not necessarily differentiate the two....which may be entirely academic when circumstances and mintages are unknown, and probably unknowable.
An interesting corner of collecting, though.
Those affiliated with the military know the difference. I guess it would be buyer beware for those who are not. On the other hand, if challenge coin collecting has become that popular, a very enterprising individual could possibly do some research and publish a book on the subject, a la Hibler & Kappen. Mintages are known as military units must maintain records of purchase.
Cheers
Bob
Just for fun, here was the patch we wore. I had two left over, one new and one used.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Ah, yes; Wild Weasels. The pilots had balls of steel.
Only the B-52 and KC-135 are left out of all the birds I worked on. Phantoms, gone; Thuds, gone; Aardvark, gone; Delta Dart, gone; T-Bird, gone. Sucks to be old.
We don't need no stinking coins.
America's Rangers: Taking out America's trash for 250 years.
Funny little story that happened to me last month.
I've been out of the Corps for 17+ years now. Just so happen I bought a foreign coin lot about a month ago. I get it home and process the contents. Out comes this little nugget. I was in this unit of and on from 1994 to 2000.
I have about 50 of them from my career. I guess the one I like best is one I received from Gen Shelton when he was Commander of Air Force Space Command.
I have also a very old one, punched from a sheet of aluminum with the design etched into it.
depends on what you mean by "your own". I have several dozen military challenge coins from my time working with the Navy. Some I received from fleet admirals, navy captains, deployed squadrons we went out to assists, my own department, and so on..
I hang out at at my local bars that are basically legion/vfw joints, the coins and liquor shots fly with the coin checks frequently!
I’ll post a pic of them when I dog them out
Here's the one I carried when I was in the Air Force. I was Ammo and worked in the bomb dump. I was given this "Ammo Coin" at my first duty station, Osan AB Korea. The tradition behind it is, if you are out with friends who are also ammo and someone starts to tap their coin on the table, you need to present your coin and tap as well. If you happen to have forgotten your coin, you have to buy a round for all your buddies. However, if everyone brought their coins with them, then the initiator has to buy a round for everyone. I personally kept mine in my wallet the entire time I served.
If your curious as to what IYAAYAS stands for PM me as it's not appropriate within the forum rules.
I was in the 1/75th Ranger Battalion from 1980-1982. We didn't mess much with Challenge Coins but I remember some guy ( a civilian looking guy) trying to sell us some once. I forget what he wanted for them I had no interest at all with parting with my own few pennies for useless BS junk. One day while washing some Clothes in the Company Laundry Room I found one in the Washer. I still have that relic somewhere in my accumulation of junk. A reminder of Pain and suffering long ago. Those were the days of the Black Ranger Beret, before they gave it away to every " Leg" in the entire Army. From what I know from then and now, Challenge Coin are mainly of interest to "GarriTroopers". GarriTroopers and Civilians.
The current Defense Secretary Mattis refuses to hand out coins.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
i have a collection of challenge coins and a large display case for them. I find them interesting and, when time allows, try to do some research on the individual coins.... some are quite interesting. I have been given some by forum members as well.... They are colorful (not tarnish
) and represent units of service, which I respect.
Cheers, RickO
@USSID17.... I like that one....Very well designed. Cheers, RickO
They did not offer them at the time I served.
I do like those that I have seen but I do not have any. Maybe some day in the future.
USN NAVY 1970-1976
USS Fiske DD-842
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Thanks for your service Wayne!
USMC 70-73
MOS0239
As the former facilities Manager for Fort Irwin California, and responsible for the "Dust Bowl" and the other rotational facilities, (Those that have been there will know what I mean) I was in direct contact with Brigade and Divisional units retating in for training. They would always give me unit coins when they were leaving and I put right at 100 of them in a 3 ring binder that my Grandson latched on to and doesn't want to give back. Will have him send me some pictures of the pages.
Also, my Son was with the 2/75th Rangers at Fort Lewis, WA in the early 1980's and they did have coins, but they werecarried around with them at all times and heaven help you if they caught you without your coin. As i recall, you had to stand the unit a beer.
While not a coin, something that might interest you.
Thanks, brother, for your service.
Jim
https://www.ebay.com/itm/USS-Fiske-DD-842-LAPEL-HAT-PIN-UP-MADE-IN-US-NAVY-VETERAN-DESTROYER-ASW-VIETNAM-/401044259023
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I have many dozens from my exploits over the years. I have them in a box somewhere, maybe I should dig them out sometime.
My “main” one was personalized and fit well in an old us mint capsule. I put it in there so it wouldn’t get damaged when traveling. We had to have it on our possession when “challenged” or we owed some drinks.
I am not sure that I have pounded out this story on this forum, but...I have acquired about a dozen or so challenge coins during my 24 years of Active Duty in the USAF. The one that means the most to me was one that was presented by General Schoomaker, CINC USSOCOM while I was deployed at Brindisi IT, providing air support during Operation Provide Promise, a multinational humanitarian effort to support Bosnia-Herzegovina. I was performing a Time Compliance Technical Order inspection on the Rotor Head of our MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. While I was laying on my back inspecting the inside attach points from the underside of the rotor head, trying not to perform a "gravity check" with my equipment, the aircraft started shaking real bad. I hollered down to "knock it off" figuring it was some of the other maintainers messing with me, when this huge man popped up and said "excuse me, I will wait on the tarmac". Initially I did not know who it was, but when I glanced down there, he stood with his arms placed on his hips "observing" what I was doing. I was thinking to myself that I was a dead man and could not concentrate on my inspection. I put my inspection on hold and climbed down from the helicopter and apologized for my "sounding off" to a General officer in a disrespectful manner. He shook my hand and said that there was nothing to apologize for since he was interrupting my duties. Gen Schoomaker held out his left hand to his accompanying aide who handed the general one of his challenge coins which was in the shape of a dog tag. Gen Schoomaker handed it to me, shook my hand and said that America was proud of us for doing our duty so far away from home, keeping America safe...and that he was proud to be our Commanding General. I still have that "coin" at the house in my top drawer of mementos from my military service. I will book mark this thread and promise to take some images of it to post.
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I didn't know such things existed when I was in, from 1969 to 1972.
I actually never heard of them while I was in ... we mostly collected patches from the different Squadrons we served with, Planes we worked on, and Ships we detached to.
I had (and may still have somewhere) a cool group of them.
Not many people know about this one however. It was made from me by the PR shop back when I was a Hornet Handler, shortly before I left that Squadron to play different games overseas. I still keep it close under a protective flap on a tool bag I use and travel with. It has a Velcro back so I could switch it between my coveralls, other gear and flight suits. Unlike a lot of badges for enlisted guys, it didn't show my actual name and rank, but a call sign a couple pilots gave me that seemingly everyone, including my CO, knew about.
It logged about 90k flight miles in the service (the last 10k coming home very shortly after the Wall came down), and it has probably close to a 1M road miles and another 50k flight miles riding with me since, even if I haven't actually worn it in a little over 31 years. Occasionally I flip the flap on the tool bag I keep it on to remember what we did, and what everyone else before and after me gave to support the freedoms and liberty we enjoy.
USN Avionics 83-89
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Anybody here who wouldn’t owe me a drink?
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I was in 68-74 and had never ran across one either, Ron.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Just when did "challenge coins" first appear. There were none when I was in the Army 1970-71. My nephew is currently in the Army Reserve and he received one last year when his medical unit was activated during April and May to work in Covid19 field hospitals (his part of the unit was in Boston).
Here's a little history:
from 32 years of service, presented to me or from units I served with. The bottom row are from friends who were promoted to 2nd LT or Warrant Officer and presented to me as First Salute coins. A proof 2001 ASE and a 2017 ASE.
Thanks for the history.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
I searched but was unable to find any coins for my Ship: USS Fiske DD-842.
Will continue to search and maybe someday....
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Wayne,
If interested this site makes your specific challenge coin(I have no affiliation with this group). Your design. Interesting. I have also searched for your specific USS Fiske DD-842 and could not find one.
Good luck.
Jim
https://www.wholesalecoins.com/coins/navy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8s7Z6f6Z8AIVRQnnCh2PWQULEAMYAiAAEgJldPD_BwE
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Thanks for your trying to find one. Unfortunately I don't need fifty of them so the link is out for designing one.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...