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Navy Freezes Funding for Challenge Coins

WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,275 ✭✭✭✭✭
Navy budgetary belt-tightening may have reached a new - if temporary - low. Officials have frozen the purchase of commanders’ coins - also known as "challenge coins" - using Defense Department dollars.

In a May 13 message to the fleet, the Navy said commanders may no longer use appropriated funds to buy the coins or other unofficial gifts and morale boosters. The brass coins, emblazoned with a unit designation and handed out by commanders for a job well done, or simply because, have routinely been ordered at every command level - on up to the President - for years.

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2013/05/20/navy-freezes-funding-for-challenge-coins

Somebody posted this to the article:

"I wonder if these coins will become rare collectors items in the future"

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Comments

  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Anything stopping them from paying for the tokens out of their own pockets?
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,275 ✭✭✭✭✭
    These items cost $7 to $10 and more to make, 1000 of them would be costly.

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    Coins in Movies
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  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Let's ask coinlieutenant image
    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,781 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>These items cost $7 to $10 and more to make, 1000 of them would be costly.

    image >>



    All the more reason that the taxpayers should not be buying them!
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,687 ✭✭✭✭✭
    As a taxpayer I would rather see these funded with monies raised by the crew. Each ship has a self sufficient "ship's store" that sells items such as T shirts and beer mugs. Sell them there where they can pay for themselves.

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,881 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Anything stopping them from paying for the tokens out of their own pockets? >>



    Unit commanders give these to members their unit and members of other units that provide exemplary support to the accomplishment of their mission. It's a cheap way to help morale and team work. It's typical of the penny wise and pound foolishness we are seeing in government these days.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,547 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Let's ask coinlieutenant image >>

    Soon to be coincommander! image
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners. :smile:
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,881 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>As a taxpayer I would rather see these funded with monies raised by the crew. Each ship has a self sufficient "ship's store" that sells items such as T shirts and beer mugs. Sell them there where they can pay for themselves. >>



    You can't buy them. The commander presents them to deserving individuals that have earned them. Sometimes the entire unit is presented with these coins (think Seal Team 6).

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • 3stars3stars Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Army is doing the same thing. Unit commanders can buy them out of pocket if they like.
    Previous transactions: Wondercoin, goldman86, dmarks, Type2
  • JamesMurrayJamesMurray Posts: 4,036


    << <i>

    << <i>As a taxpayer I would rather see these funded with monies raised by the crew. Each ship has a self sufficient "ship's store" that sells items such as T shirts and beer mugs. Sell them there where they can pay for themselves. >>



    You can't buy them. The commander presents them to deserving individuals that have earned them. Sometimes the entire unit is presented with these coins (think Seal Team 6). >>



    As always , Ebay is awash with them , problem with these coins is when you order 1000 or however many you still don't own the dies so the manufacturer can and do sell them online on countless web sites and of course the bay.
  • jessewvujessewvu Posts: 5,065 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Our Department Head bought some for us out of his own pocket, and he was a LCDR. I thought most people did.
  • spy88spy88 Posts: 764 ✭✭
    The first definition of a COIN in my dictionary is...

    << <i>1. A small piece of metal, usually flat and circular, authorized by a government for use as money." >>

    Is our military now considering themselves separate 'governments' that can mint their own coins? I remember the powers-that-be jumped down National Collector's Mint throat for making and selling the Northern Marianna Island 1933 $20 gold (clad) double eagle as 'legal tender' with no COPY stamp (I bought 5 in 2004).

    Seriously, how can they call these 'coins'? Do they have a denomination value? Is there a reverse as well as a obverse? Is it a pocket-piece, a paperweight or does it have a pin on the back to put on one's dress coat with other earned awards? Isn't it really a medallion?

    When I was in the Army during 'Nam, you had to earn your ribbons...now they just hand them out as "coins"? Really?
    Everything starts and everything stops at precisely the right time for precisely the right reason.
  • jessewvujessewvu Posts: 5,065 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm the 24th person to get one of these nice challenge coins. Don't forget it while on a TDY or you're going to buy the first round at the bar image

    image
  • JerseyJoeJerseyJoe Posts: 460 ✭✭
    Not exactly a challenge coin but close.

    image
    A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because it's trust is not in the branch but it's own wings.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There are a lot more important things our tax dollars can be spent on.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • Your tax dollars at work

    $1 million on a fruit fly sexual attractiveness study

    $1.4 billion in improper food stamps purchases which included alcohol, condoms, junk food and diapers

    -$1.3 million for old fashioned x-rays of prisoners. x-rays of prisoners

    -$1.5 million on designing a video game controller

    -$100,000 on taxpayer funded comedy group tour in India

    -$547,430 on a dancing robot that connects to an iPhone

    -$25,000 funding a course about "How to be happy"

    -$145,000 on a sculpture garden

    -$25,000 on an Alabama Watermelon Queen tour

    -$697,177 on a climate change musical

    -$10,000 on talking urinal cakes (just in case the boys need some company or to prevent drunk driving)

    -$35 million on an old fashioned trolly car

    -$150,000 for a toy exhibit

    -$320,000 for robot squirrels
  • pennyanniepennyannie Posts: 3,929 ✭✭✭
    I think they are a waste of taxpayer money. I would not be thrilled to recieve one for a job well done. I would think a .... You can find these for sale everywhere are these sold by the guys that recieved them or overstock?
    Mark
    NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
    working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!

    RIP "BEAR"
  • jessewvujessewvu Posts: 5,065 ✭✭✭✭✭

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