For those of you who are not aware of this item, in the military, it is traditional for each command to have a commemorative coin produced representing the command. Each is decidedly different, usually of enameled brass and the size of a Morgan silver dollar. They are used as a souvenir or as a reward in recognition of performance of duty. They are quite collectible, particularly the ones from decommissioned commands or Spec Op units. At one time, I had about thirty of them. My house was burglarized about eight years ago and they were stolen.
Anyway, I'm watching the news on TV. POTUS is behind his desk in the oval office. Over his right shoulder in the background is a rack of about forty challenge coins, no doubt picked-up at various military commands. No big deal, I just thought that it was a neat decor feature.
I have a small drawer full of them, never understood their purpose, just customary to give them out I suppose. I got most of mine for putting on various training programs at locations around the Air Force. They also exist for military organizations below the command level.
Challenge coins are after my time in service. I think they became the big thing in the 1990's. From what I understand is if you were in the NCO or Officers clubs and some call for a challenge and you didn't have a your coin you paid for the round.
For those of you who are not aware of this item, in the military, it is traditional for each command to have a commemorative coin produced representing the command. Each is decidedly different, usually of enameled brass and the size of a Morgan silver dollar. They are used as a souvenir or as a reward in recognition of performance of duty. They are quite collectible, particularly the ones from decommissioned commands or Spec Op units. At one time, I had about thirty of them. My house was burglarized about eight years ago and they were stolen.
Anyway, I'm watching the news on TV. POTUS is behind his desk in the oval office. Over his right shoulder in the background is a rack of about forty challenge coins, no doubt picked-up at various military commands. No big deal, I just thought that it was a neat decor feature.
I've heard of them but I guess I never earned one. Maybe after my time too.
Thanks for the post
We've done similar with different fire departments and when I was flying, it was common to trade wings with Russian flight crews we met in different places.
When I was in HQ AETC CE, we had some challenge coins made up to make some money by selling them to those of us who worked there. I don't remember the price. I also don't know who designed them but they were so crude no one wanted to buy them.
I picked up about a dozen while I was in Afghanistan. My fellow police advisors designed one that we handed out. Somewhere I have pictures. If I can't find the pics, I'll get out one of the coins and make some new pictures.
Now everyone, even the Forest Service, has coins. In my active duty days in the early 80's (before they became all the rage) these coins were mainly in special operations units and were nothing fancy. Usually brass with no added color. This is my earliest that survived, from 1985. I had an earlier one, but tossed it in the shower at SCUBA school to coin check some classmates. It went down the drain and I had to find a replacement quickly. At the time, a 50 cent piece was acceptable for a temporary coin because JFK was on it and he was a huge supporter of Army Special Forces.
The numbered Commanders coins are some of my most appreciated coins. The number on the coin is logged in a Commanders book accounting for who has each one. The general operation coins were sold as fundraisers and to me look nice, but have no sentimental value for a job well done. I have mine (a couple dozen) displayed on a wooden rack hanging on the wall.
When I was stationed in Germany in the mid 80's we carried a 1 pfenning coin as a challenge coin....or buy a round of drinks!
At my unit if you don't have an "RMO" (Round Metal Object) aka a challenge coin, you have to take a shot at the bar, OUR bar (we have one in the break room). It's usally gross like tequila or whiskey mixed with pickle juice or canned oysters!
My department put out a couple of different challenge coins. I pick others up as trading stock. I have a couple right now on another site for sale... I'll post a couple of pics here later.
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Last edited by retiredbadge8091; 04-17-2017 at 12:15 AM.
Reason: Adding photos
It started as an Army Special Forces gut check kind of thing. If you are challenged in a bar and can't produce your coin then you buy a round. I always carried my coin for such occasions. At some point it took off, lost a little manhood to the point that everyone has one.
I feel like I've just been coined. Besides the unit coins I always appreciated getting one from someone that made an impact on military history. Here is a coin from Melvin Wick when he was the CSM of Special Operations Command, he was also the first Sergeant Major for Delta Force and spent sixteen years with them.
As I understand it, there's another type of challenge that is won by the person with the coin from the highest ranking command. Daughter says she wins most of those.
For those of you who are not aware of this item, in the military, it is traditional for each command to have a commemorative coin produced representing the command. Each is decidedly different, usually of enameled brass and the size of a Morgan silver dollar. They are used as a souvenir or as a reward in recognition of performance of duty. They are quite collectible, particularly the ones from decommissioned commands or Spec Op units. At one time, I had about thirty of them. My house was burglarized about eight years ago and they were stolen.
Anyway, I'm watching the news on TV. POTUS is behind his desk in the oval office. Over his right shoulder in the background is a rack of about forty challenge coins, no doubt picked-up at various military commands. No big deal, I just thought that it was a neat decor feature.
He does have good taste. Ive seen what looks like a Remington statue behind his desk.
Here are some of my favorites from the '80s and '90s sitting on the bag I store them in. I appreciated the key fobs because it meant I always had at least one coin.
Later in my career I found myself carrying many coins. Never wanted to be caught without the one given me by a young Airman (the AMMO coin and others) -- they would just beam when they'd try to catch me without their coin and I'd produce it.
It started as an Army Special Forces gut check kind of thing. If you are challenged in a bar and can't produce your coin then you buy a round. I always carried my coin for such occasions. At some point it took off, lost a little manhood to the point that everyone has one.
I had to LOL at the shower coin-check.
Somewhere (late Eighties?) along the line every tom dick & harry unit picked up on them...nowadays you can find ANY unit from any time, on eBay--and some of them are exact replicas.
Somewhere (late Eighties?) along the line every tom dick & harry unit picked up on them...nowadays you can find ANY unit from any time, on eBay--and some of them are exact replicas.
I did a deployment to MND North, British sector in Bosnia. Someone made up a coin for the few Americans up there, by the time we got them most of the guys had rotated out. My job was to send them there coins, ***! Anyway, I had a few extras after I was done, months later I ran into a guy that collected them. I told him where I had been and he asks me if I have "the coin?" What? You know about the coin? Word really gets around, anyway he asks me to sell him one. I'm like how much, he offers me $100, ***! This is in 1998-99, I was stunned that someone would pay that. Anyway, I told him I couldn't take that kind of money for it, he was so disappointed. Well, I couldn't take his pain anymore so I took $40 for it to make him happy.
Here's another one. Got this one from the Division Commander of the 101st while I was OPCON (very loose control) to them in the Kurdish area in 2004. David Petraeus was a two star at that time.
Most interesting poker hand: Aces and eights -- a.k.a. dead man's hand -- Wild Bill Hickok.
Well, there's a lot of debate about the makeup of that hand. Most parties seem to agree that it was a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all black. The fifth card is the subject of much disagreement, with some believing that it was the queen of hearts.
In some places if Your at the Enlisted Club and Someone slaps a challenge coin on the Bar You better have one because if You dont You buy drinks for the House.
I have ONE.
It was given to me by an Army Captain (now a Colonel) several years ago, while he was serving in Iraq.
His mother had told me that she had a letter from him which mentioned that he was down to his last two fishing hooks, and would soon have to give up his favorite "down time" activity. You'd be surprised at the things that we take for granted here that are nearly unobtainable in the middle-east.
I asked her for his address, and sent him a care package of hooks, bobbers, lures, fishing line, weights and misc. other things that I thought might be useful. This challenge coin came to me shortly thereafter, along with a letter of gratitude and an explanation of what the coin was, and that it could be presented as mentioned earlier in "drinking establishments".
Having not worn a uniform I wouldn't dare use it in such a fashion, but it remains one of my prized possessions and is kept locked in my legacy chest.
For those of you who are not aware of this item, in the military, it is traditional for each command to have a commemorative coin produced representing the command. Each is decidedly different, usually of enameled brass and the size of a Morgan silver dollar. They are used as a souvenir or as a reward in recognition of performance of duty. They are quite collectible, particularly the ones from decommissioned commands or Spec Op units. At one time, I had about thirty of them. My house was burglarized about eight years ago and they were stolen.
Anyway, I'm watching the news on TV. POTUS is behind his desk in the oval office. Over his right shoulder in the background is a rack of about forty challenge coins, no doubt picked-up at various military commands. No big deal, I just thought that it was a neat decor feature.
I never saw one the whole time I was in the US Army from 1983-1987.
I don't know if this counts as a "Challenge" coin as even if David did not have his with him, I don't think there is anyone in the Military who would expect a MOH recipient to buy his own drinks, much less the round. It's the only coin I have.
Don't mean to hijack the coin thread, but her are some details on David.
He was a family friend that we met long after his Vietnam days.
Wed March 22nd was the 50th anniversary of the battle where he was awarded The Medal.
46 of the original 118 men in his company came to his gravesite at Houston Veterans Memorial on that day to pay their respects to their sergeant.
Here is the Wiki article on his battle. Very similar to the movie "We were Soldiers", they even had a helicopter pilot that did multiple rescue missions. David H. McNerney - Wikipedia.
Anyone know the story behind the challenge coins? I believe it originated with some WWI aviators? Not sure of the details...anyone else ever hear that story?
CHALLENGE COINS
Well, I couldn't take his pain anymore so I took $40 for it to make him happy. 
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