NYT: "Morale, Allegiance and Drinking: How Military Challenge Coins Evolved and Spread"

Goldbully

I found this to be a very informative article on challenge coins.

---

Morale, Allegiance and Drinking: How Military Challenge Coins Evolved and Spread
By Emily Baumgaertner April 11, 2018

---

President Barack Obama giving a presidential challenge coin at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California in 2014.
Credit Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

---

WASHINGTON — Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has proposed a redesign of the agency’s commemorative coin, an adaptation of longstanding “challenge coins” exchanged among American troops. From a military drinking tradition to civilian government agencies, here is how the coins have evolved and proliferated.

---

What are challenge coins?

---

Military commanders often give pocket-size medallions, called challenge coins, to service members as a mark of camaraderie. A commander’s unique coin — often copper, bronze or nickel — carries symbols and mottos denoting the unit or office. Coins are usually circular, but also can be pentagons, spades or even dog tags to be worn around the neck.

Throughout their service, military members use the coins to prove their allegiance when challenged. High-ranking officers and retirees often display a collection of coins in their offices alongside uniform patches and ribbons as a symbol of pride.

“In the military, the coins have always been purely about morale and commitment,” said Tracy English, a historian at the Air Force’s 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. “If you walk into a high-ranking service member’s office with a big magnet, chances are you will die.”

---

Where did this tradition come from?

---

Challenge coins were never officially sanctioned, so the history behind the tradition is widely debated among military historians.

Clockwise from bottom, the challenge coins of President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Vice President
Joseph R. Biden Jr. and President Barack Obama. Credit Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post, via Getty Images

---

A common narrative purports that a wealthy American lieutenant in World War I distributed matching bronze coins to his unit members before they were deployed. When an American fighter pilot was captured by Germans and escaped to a French outpost, he was assumed to be a German spy — until he presented the challenge coin around his neck. According to the tale, the coin saved his life — and earned him a bottle of French wine as reparation.

Other historians believe the tradition began in an infantry-run bar in Vietnam, where patrons were required to present enemy bullets or their challenge coin upon entrance.

In keeping with either narrative, challenge coins still earn service members their share of alcohol. Military members often tap their challenge coins upon meeting in a bar — shouting, “Coin check!” — and anyone who either cannot produce one or is the last to show it buys the first round of drinks.

---

How has it since evolved?

---

Challenge coin traditions have climbed to the highest ranks of the military. In 2011, Robert M. Gates, then the defense secretary, shook hands with United States troops in Afghanistan, passing duplicates of his challenge coin to each of them as a token of gratitude.

All presidents since Bill Clinton have also carried distinctly designed challenge coins to present to foreign dignitaries and military personnel. President George W. Bush often gave them to injured troops returning from the Middle East; President Barack Obama made a tradition of passing them to service members stationed at the stairs of Air Force One.

Cmdr. Mark Vislay, then the commanding officer at Air Station Sitka in Alaska, giving a challenge coin
to Martin Johnson Sr., a World War II veteran, during a dinner honoring veterans in 2015.

---

But largely because of custom-design coin companies, challenge coins have seeped beyond the military to other government agencies and offices: Secretaries of transportation and agriculture have designed their own coins; so have senators and even local fire departments.

“How and when that jump to civilian life began, we don’t exactly know,” Mr. English said. “I’ve seen small companies throughout San Antonio with their own coins. I recently got one from a Boy Scout.”

Some consider the proliferation a symbol of solidarity with the American military. Others see it as the contorting of an honored ritual for bragging rights in Washington, collecting the coins as weighty business cards or displaying them as autographs.

---

Who funds the coins?

---

Challenge coins can cost $5 to $10 each, so agencies can spend thousands of dollars on the tokens each year. In some areas of government, leaders are said to purchase the coins out of their own personal accounts.

In the military, some units have booster clubs that generate money for challenge coins. Other commanders are authorized to purchase “morale boosters” with government funds, Mr. English said. The Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment on challenge coin funding.

“If you buy a whole bunch coins and a new Mercedes, maybe that’s a problem,” Mr. English said. “Otherwise, folks are often supportive of keeping with the tradition.”

---

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/us/politics/challenge-coins.html

Kudbegud

Interesting. Thanks

blitzdude

USMC 89-94, never saw or heard of a challenge coin, must be Pepsi.

CharlotteDude

USAF 1985-2005 and I have plenty of 'em. Never go into a bar with military comrades without one...

'dude

Kudbegud

USAF 71-75. I knew nothing about these until a few years ago.

blitzdude

@CharlotteDude said:
USAF 1985-2005 and I have plenty of 'em. Never go into a bar with military comrades without one...

'dude

Not saying I don't like them just didn't have them when I was active. Then again I never spent much time in bars, probably would have kept loosing the thing anyway. Interesting article.

WillieBoyd2

The article doesn't mention this but these coins became popular in the 1980's because computers made it easier and cheaper to design and manufacture them.

Mentions Sec. Mattis' refusal to hand out coins:
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Defense-Secretary-Mattis-Not-Visiting-War-Zone-Troops-for-Holidays-467153343.html

ricko

Good post... I have an extensive collection of challenge coins and a large, four sided display case. They are quite attractive. It is an honor to be given one and I have received some from other forum members. Challenge coins are typically round, however, there are some with different shapes. I have one from LeJuene that is triangular. Challenge coins were very popular memento's during the Middle East conflicts. Cheers, RickO

EXOJUNKIE

A small pile of challenge coins in my office. For reference, the one at the top of the photo is 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Just some of the hundreds I've accumulated!