Posted on Mar 27, 2016
Challenge coins. Do you use them, collect them, or both?
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I know they mean something to the older and saltier vets on here so this is geared more towards the younger folks like me. Personally I collect the ones I receive; on great occasion I buy one. I've sold most of the ones I've bought on impulse (yeah I was that boot) except for a few that I haven't been able to. I have yet, however, to run into a situation where I needed to use one (bar scenario).
Posted in these groups: 
Challenge Coin
Collecting
Challenge Coin Collecting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 93
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Coins nowadays really don't mean much. They are given out so frequently and for the dumbest shit
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SP5 Paul Riley
When E'7's automatically get bronze stars for a deployment and everyone else gets a challenge coin for a job well done, leaves a bad taste.
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SGT Thomas Fisher
We had a BN Driver that stood there and told us he asked every high ranking officer for a coin when he took the LTC places. Usually he got one. So to me, that took away from the meaning of all those coins.
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SGT Robert Jensik
Some coins mean more than others. In the end, they're a slug of pot-metal, the meaning to you has more value than the coin itself. If they are substituted for LOAs then shame on the people doing that. The BEST thing by far I was ever given was a LOA from the Sergeant Major of the Army. Did I "earn" it? Well, for doing my job. It was however, a kind acknowledgement of just doing my job that personally touched the SMA enough to compose and sign a nice acknowledgement of what happened. I'd rather my relatives find that letter 100 years from now and UNDERSTAND why I got it, rather than any coin, no matter how nifty.
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MSgt (Join to see)
That's fair comment. I got a 3-star coin for picking up a laptop charger from the office and dropping it off at lodging.
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I collect them they are precious memories of my career and I have only been challenged once and my coin was a 2 star his was a 1 star
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SSG Mark Madsen
My first station was in Germany (West, that is. At the time there was an East Germany) After PCS stateside I gave a 1 pfennig coin to a guy headed over for the first time. Back in the early 1980s a pfennig check could cause someone to have to buy a round for the group, and the newly arriving were usually the victims!
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CSM Charles Hayden
Challenge? Please enlighten me. I always thought thechalkenge was to have one from the unit you were/ had served in or to buy a round?
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SGT Cynthia Barnard
It is that but it can also be with others outside the unit and then it is who has higher coin
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I keep all of mine. I have over 40 of them and can remember when and why I received each one. Using them is slowly fading away. I've explained on more than one occasion on what "coining" means. We had a unit Dining Out in Dec, and one of the questions I asked the CDR was what are the rules of coining for the event. We established a solid set of quasi "rule" (I think they were to protect the innocent. We have 3 brand new 2LT's). Good times were had by all.
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I keep a Presidential Coin in my pocket. I've been challenged once or twice at the VFW or by old guys when they come to the school to teach a class. They never challenge me twice. Only good thing that ever came from Clinton. Lol
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I have taken duplicate unit coins I have received and passed them to deserving soldiers, telling them what I had done to deserve it.
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SP5 Paul Riley
that's nice Sir don't recall anyone ever getting promoted because someone gave them a challenge coins.
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SSG Mark Madsen
I would guess those have become very highly prized mementos of your service together. Great idea, Sir.
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LTC(P) (Join to see)
SP5 Paul Riley - I do. When added as an NCOER comment, those accomplishments add-up.
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Challenge coins were not a thing when I was in the Navy (82-86). My son just finished his 2nd year of NROTC, and as I dropped him off at the airport to head to summer training, he gave me a 75th anniversary coin for his school's NROTC unit. Is that a "challenge coin?" It is about the size of a silver dollar, and very heavy.
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There was a day when only paratroopers had coins, usually after an initiation into a unit by a festivity known as a "Prop blast".
Thereafter, anyone caught without his coin, bought the challenger a drink.
Now look at it. Another tradition spoiled by legs who wannabe Airborne.
Thereafter, anyone caught without his coin, bought the challenger a drink.
Now look at it. Another tradition spoiled by legs who wannabe Airborne.
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MSG Scott Bradley
Yeah, coins were pretty damn rare in my early years of the Military. By the time I retired everybody was handing them out.
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SSG (Join to see)
So you have seen a lot... people hate feeling left out so it was inevitable that it would spread across the Army. Hope to hear more from you young soldiers can benefit from your years of experience... Thank you for picking up the sword!!!
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I have a few, but never used them to get a drink at the bar. I always felt that in it's history it had it's time. For me, it was a coin, and only at my last base did my fellow unit members go almost overboard with it. Somehow, it lost it's spirit at that point... It became more of a game and a way to ostracize someone who either never got one, or maybe left it at home. I still have mine and will treasure it always.
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They were only starting to come into Vogue in the Navy at the end of my Career but they are pretty cool and I've bought a couple and received one from a National Guard Co-Worker.
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Challenge Coins Were meant to mean something back in the days as to now it is a dog and pony show to receive one. Tradition has left the building as well as Customs and Courtesies. Let's go old school and bring back the Real Backbone.
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