As Navy Challenge Coins Get More Elaborate, a Tradition Can Become a Treasure Hunt From Stars and Stripes and Military.Com, Author: Joshua Karsten MANAMA, Bahrain -- There's a burgeoning online market for the elaborate and colorful coins pressed into the palms of Navy petty officers when they pin on their anchors and take the chief petty officer's pledge, but some critics say the trade diminishes the value of the tradition. The origins of the military coins, also called "challenge coins," is hazy, but military leaders have bestowed them to informally recognize a job well done or as a sign of appreciation for decades, if not a century or more. Some critics, however, argue that the hobby has gotten out of hand and that coins are growing more expensive as chiefs and messes try to outdo each other with larger and more complicated designs. Article: https://www.military.com/daily-news...orate-tradition-can-become-treasure-hunt.html
@willieboyd2 Thanks for posting this. Collecting is a habit that anyone can enjoy. I had a couple of challenge coins that I acquired in one of my bulk purchases. They were from the Marine Corps, and when a new recruiting office opened in Cape Coral, FL, I made them a gift to the recruiters who had a display of medals in the office. Chris
The only challenge coins I have are ones I've earned or acquired on deployments. I like them but don't have a display for them. Some people have some really big displays for their coins.
I have 3 of them, and one of them is proudly displayed on my desk at work (I really should bring them home and photograph them). The first is the challenge coin for the ship I'm currently working for. The second was given to me by a chief from the Reagan, after I helped him qualify. The third is the one I'm most proud of. It was given to me by the Command Master Chief of Naval Reactors. It is a giant coin in the shape of an atom, with an enamel picture of Rickover.
Thanks for posting the article. Later I will try and post the link to Ray Bows' take on them which provides a bit if history. I have several I've picked up over the years. Here's the first one I ever received: (I need to reshoot these!)
Brought 2 of them home to photograph. The first is the boat I currently work on (civilian contractor for the Navy), the second was given to me by the CMC of NR.
