Post your Challenge Coins

What is a Challenge Coin you may ask. In general, a Challenge Coin is a coin specially designed for a certain group, company, or organization to symbolize membership in the same. They are pocket sized and are made of different types of metal. Most are made of pewter, copper, or nickel, however other materials may be used. Most challenge coins are round, but some are not. A simple internet search can find them in different shapes.

Some believe challenge coins were first used by Roman military. However, I am not aware of any official historical records that provide proof of their origin.

One of the most prevalent organizations challenge coins are found today is in military organizations. They are also found in police and fire departments.

Challenge coins usually come with a set of rules for use. I have found some rules online but would think each organization or group would likely develop their own specific rules for use.

My personal experience with challenge coins comes from my own career in the United States Air Force. Thier use usually takes place in a setting where alcoholic beverages are sold. It goes something like this. A person would call a challenge for someone or a group to present a challenge coin to prove they have one. Anyone not able to present a challenge coin would be required to purchase a drink for all of the participants who did present one. While this activity was an entertaining use of the coins, the main purpose of the coins was to instill a sense of belonging and pride for membership. Some organizations also use challenge coins as a form of reward, to recognize special accomplishments like a heroic act or for longevity of membership. The potential for uses is only limited by those involved.

Here is one of my challenge coins representing my years as a First Sergeant in the USAF.

 

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Bless ya Sarge for your service. I've got some pics of mine I'll try to hunt down.

 

Yes thank you for your service.

 

I was a missile crewman on Pershing missiles from 1977-1983….. I saw threads on CT about challenge coins and I had never heard of them…. Then I ran into this one day rummaging through old stuff…. So I am guessing I did get this challenge coin while I served. But it sure is a non-memory in my brain pan.

 

Thank you as well for serving!

 

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got a few others as well (all Mine/earned lol) but too lazy to hunt down the pics

 

Well, couldn't find the pictures but I did find the coins.

Big shout out to @Jwt708 for graciously sending these to me back in 2013..

 

Here are a couple of mine:

 

I have one I got from Littleton but for some reason I can't find it.

 

Here are a few of mine on display in my office.