Challenge coins. Do you use them, collect them, or both?

I took pictures of mine (30 ish), then gave the coins to my grand kids.

I only have the ones that were given to me throughout my career for a job well done that didn't warrant an award (that wouldn't be approved anyway), no one had time for a letter of appreciation. They were given for a job well done, above that of doing your job. They, in my time, were rarely handed out. The few coins I have are my most valuable and memorable things I've held on too since my career ended.

I've bought some that have been made for particular missions. I've never sold or traded coins how ever I have have traded patches for a coin once or twice not knowing I was getting a coin. I've kept them all but at the same time never needed to use one

I have over 60 coins, they are all in a box, in the garage. I don't like people coming into my office and wanting to talk about coins.

I have a dozen or so mixed into the cake tin where I keep such stuff

When I was in right after Desert Shield/Storm and the draw down continued I recieved a coin from another unit by the work I did on their equipment as a thanks for the extra work I did to get them up in status ( I was a 52D then in a DS unit and the FA unit organization maintenance was shit) Meant more to me than any other coin I ever received or had to buy from the units I was in.

I have never bought a coin in my 19+ years. Every coin I have was awarded. I have traded one or two when I had multiple of the same coin. I think they are a cool keep sake to pass down to your kids so they have something later on to be proud of their parents military career. They also make good conversation pieces when on display.

I spent 17 1/2 years in total service. Didn't get my first change coin until I had 15 years in. I didn't even know what a change coin was for or why my BC was giving it to me. The one that means the most to me looks like a poker chip and was from my BC and 1SG. It wouldn't win anything at the bar.

I give them to my Soldiers. They do all the work, anyway. Never cared much for accolades.

I will never part with the one our command had made in Baghdad in 2003 out of a statue of Saddam. I gave my Father-in-Law the one I received for a top test score while at an AIT to reclass from Field Artillery to Transportation Corps after my hearing loss from that same deployment.

I keep and collect the ones I have. I've bought ones that are either really cool or mean something significant to me. The older I get I'd actually like to display them, but for now they realistically collect dust in some forgotten corner.

I guess I am to old school

I have received 2 actual Challenge coins in my 22 yr career - one at Maj Gen 2 bn 218 FA (ANG) and 1 USAF AD from CG Centcom. never been challenged never offered challenge ;) others are not so much Challenge coins as just for collecting (Anheueser Busch presented my unit with one, a couple others presentations, but not official Challenge coins)