US Military Challenge Coins - real or not?

Comments

• halfnut Posts: 1,619

  January 26, 2009 12:39AM

  Challenage coins have been around for many years in the Navy, I have around 40 or so in my collection. I still carry mine from my Chiefs initation due to having to buy a few to many rounds at the Chiefs club. I'm not sure when the other services got onboard.
  
  
  Dan

  U S Navy Retired 22 years - ENC(SW) Ret. - Travling Nuclear Maintanence Contractor - Working Indian Point Nuclear plant Buchanan New York
  
  
  ">Franklin Halves
  ">Kennedy Halves

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• MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,613 ✭✭✭✭✭

  January 26, 2009 12:42AM

  Please read this thread.

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• halfnut Posts: 1,619

  January 26, 2009 2:18AM

  Hears one I realy think is cool.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dan

  U S Navy Retired 22 years - ENC(SW) Ret. - Travling Nuclear Maintanence Contractor - Working Indian Point Nuclear plant Buchanan New York
  
  
  ">Franklin Halves
  ">Kennedy Halves

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• mcmxi Posts: 890 ✭

  January 26, 2009 2:38AM

  I don't recall calling them challenge coins. I think we called the commanders coins or something. I got a few in the Marines from 93-97, and then when I was in the Army from 98-07.

  If I was half as smart as I am dumb Iwould be a genious

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• Raufus Posts: 7,131 ✭✭✭✭✭

  January 26, 2009 2:13PM

  Challenge coins are widely used in Law Enforcement as well as with govt. agencies such as CIA, NGMA, ect..... I used to be an instructor at a LE/Military shooting school. We exchanged challenge coins all the time.

  Land of the Free because of the Brave!

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• jimmymac Posts: 505 ✭

  January 26, 2009 2:36PM

  challenge coins are giving out in the Army usually from a higher ranking individual to a lesser rank to show appreciation and a form of recognition for a job well done - have several from my unit and other units that I served with in Iraq - commanders usually give them out to officers under their command and to fellow commanders - can be quite colorful and intricate in design - the designs are a history lesson in themselves - I believe there's a national club that caters to this sought of coin - anyone know that name and how to contact??
  
  my last tour to Iraq, instead of handing out a challenge coin, I gave out Eisenhower Dollars - thought it would be a nice way for my soldiers to remember me and be patriotic at the same time - a lot of the younger soldiers didnt have any idea what it was - maybe someday they will see it and recall the good times we had together.

  currently putting together a EF/AU/BU 18th & 19th Century Type Set; and CC Morgan Set
  
  just completed 3d tour to Iraq and retired after 28+ years in the US Army

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• itsnotjustme Posts: 8,786 ✭✭✭

  January 26, 2009 8:49PM

  I have 30 or so. The oldest I have seen is from the 1970s, cut from a sheet of aluminum.
  
  Best I have was presented by the DoD/NII after my inputs to a NATO meeting. He then picked my next assignment.

  Give Blood (Red Bags) & Platelets (Yellow Bags)!

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• Cameonut Posts: 7,426 ✭✭✭✭✭

  January 27, 2009 5:21AM

  Those are pretty neat. Until today I had never heard of them.
  Did a quick check on Ebay - 82 pages worth!! Obviously pretty popular.
  
  I think I will get one and use it as a pocket piece/golf ball marker. Now which one should I buy??

  “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
  
  My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

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