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

I keep one in my wallet. Who doesn't love free shots?

I was in during a period of time when you did not see Challenge coins, in the 70's and 80's. Their us blossomed about the same time when you got two automatic ribbons/awards just for making it through Basic, and could get up to 4. That has cheapened the meaning of awards to us old timers.

I never saw or even heard of a Challenge coin while I was in the Navy. However that was more than 20 years ago.

Never used them for challenge, only have a few, I got out in 2000. But the 2 I like the most was one I received from Sargent Major of the Army Kidd. And one I received in 2014 at a veterans reception at the Texas Republican Convention from The soon to be Governor Greg Abbott. Just 2 cool coins that have a special meaning to me as the one from Abbott was a couple months before I received my disability rating. Cooler that the coin was seeing him honor all the old school vets to include one that served in WW2, Korea AND Vietnam. Now that's a special man.

I've never used them. I do collect them. I have a few that were gifted, but most of them I bought as a memento. I have a coin from every base I've been to. I have a coin from every unit I've worked with. I have my boot camp coin. Then I have a coin for every rank I achieved. To me it's like having a piece of history from my contributions to the Marine Corps.

We used it a lot in korea at the squadron hooch other than that I've never used it

This is sounding more and more like a pokeman thing.....gotta catchem all lmao

That BIRF life lol

I like to collect them and pass them to those I've met in the course of my career. I'll buy several of my unit coins and give them to others as a sign of appreciation. For instance, my Career Course instructor collected coins from his students over his years, so I helped to increase his collection. It is a personal touch and adds to the camaraderie between Marines across the Fleet and Reserve.

Mine are all in a baggie in my desk drawer.... maybe someday I will get around to doing something with them. Maybe.

I've been given coins more meaningful then most my medals, It's not the coin that adds value but the accomplishment and memory attached.

When I was in Germany, we had a soldier E5 promotion board. Soldier came in after doing the proper reporting proceedure, he then had the balls to coin challenge the board president. The CSM kicked him out.. the soldier also earned the respect of the CSM and was awarded full board points and was made promotable for E5.

I live in fear because I lost my Lucky Puppy (131th TFS) coin. Ten years after leaving the squadron I got tagged at a NASCAR race.

I could and would kill the guy who stole my regimental CSM coin and a 2 star coin I received from FT Campbell. A few years ago a coin to meant more than an award. The coin, was personal. The award a COL or LT. COL sees come across his desk daily.

Being an older soldier, I remember the pride I got when I first received a coin. If caught without it was the way of getting us I learned after the first time in the shower without it. I still have that first coin, with a hole drilled for my dogtag chain. Over the years they slowly diminished in meaning when you could purchase them. They no longer were a thing rare and everyone had many. They passed inspection and got a coin. I wouldn't trade or sell none of mine. They all have memories even though tarnished a bit

I never received one while on active duty, but I did get a coin from R Lee Ermy, when we went to Sturgis one year, although it was a true "military" coin, still makes me happy

I lost a 3-star general coin once. I had it with me while traveling, fell asleep on the mwr couch in an airport and it fell out of my pocket into the couch. I didn't realize it until I was on the plane.

Some how even being in

Never used them in the Army but now in the Civil Air Patrol I do

I cared about coins for all of maybe 6 months. I EARNED my first coin for busting my ass and excelling. I was proud of that coin. Then a few months later I got a coin from General Defretes for nothing more than being in his presence. It was pointless. I did nothing. More trivial coins came after that. See a high ranking individual, shake hands, talk about my job, get a coin. I started discarding them as soon as I got out of sight of the person. My ex wife kept around a dozen I got from 2008 - 2010 but after that I just give them to the closest person to me that's into that sorta thing. Now I'm a SETA Contractor and I get coins from everyone for training Soldiers for deployment (my job) I just hand them straight to the hardest working Soldier I trained that the Command overlooks and never recognizes. Coins are pointless.

The coins have never meant much of anything to me. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the recognition value of the person giving it to me, but the coin itself has no value to me. I've lost most if not all of my coins, and don't even give them a second thought, until the topic is brought up.

Challenge coins were a big deal for a while, then everyone and their uncle started getting them and handing them out. In most cases it is a special and immediate way to recognize someone for doing something exceptional that may not qualify them for an award, particularly civilians or those in other branches or units. The higher the rank or organization of the giver, the cooler the coin. In my old unit it was a way of saying 'thanks for your help, but we're not going to give you an award, you get a coin instead'. Unfortunately the coins were butt ugly and after you got two or three, you'd give them away. Luckily they ran out a few years ago and we are back to paper certificates of appreciation that mean even less. However I've still kept a few coins that have personal significance to me, A 160th SOAR coin, a Delta Coin, a Canadian Army Peace Keeping Coin, a few from CSM's here and there. Then there are those who collect them and have a special rack in their office, they don't have a combat patch and only 3 ribbons, but they've for 50 coins (and they only bought a few of them). Anymore it seems you get a coin for being at the right place at the right time, nothing more...

I have only received one Challenge coin, when I was promoted to Corporal, but that was the only time I've witnessed a Marine receiving one

I think they are BS.... I got a MND-B Division coin for pushing forward and engaging hostile targets in the "Surge"... all other elements buttoned up and did not return fire or engage at all... seemed like a good out to not do the paperwork... oh yeah same people that didn't engage "earned" their CIB that day...

Unfortunately I have lost 4 of my coins. They were in a old duffle bag full of extra non issue junk and the whole bag went poof.
Only two things I want from that bag (other than the bag itself) are my coins and the extra boots that were in it. :(

The 3 I had were stolen from me. I've never been so maddened in my life.

Some trade them, some give them away. I keep every one that is given to me from leadership. They remind me of where I started, where I've been, and what I've accomplished along the way. The highest one I have so far is from a 2 Star from my first deployment. I was one of three Soldiers to be given a coin that day from the Commanding General of the 1st TSC.

I loved them as markers of time. It showed where you were in a given year. My last deployable unit was very small, only 10 men. We had between us 200 coins. That is all there are in the world, so having one of ours is a rare and special thing. I had 20 of them made additionally so when someone was outstanding in their performance of duties outside of that unit, or went out of there way to make something difficult, not, I rewarded their efforts. As I passed the coin to them I relayed how few there were in the entire world, and that by receiving one, their work had not gone unnoticed, and they were well appreciated as a person. Never did I get negative feedback from that.
I was not the only one that did that either. A medevac unit I was able to assist gave me one of there for my efforts. That is still one of my favorites, as the shape was completely different. The sentiments it was given in were something kind, and in Iraq that was hard to find. I loved the idea then, and I love it now.

No. But my friend told me a story when his friend through his down. Everyone scampered to get theres. But his was just a coin.

When I was in Berlin from 84-87 we were given them for Expert Marksmanship, Military Excellence, (SQT of 95 or above), or 290 or above PT score....and that was it. I got a few and will always save them.....never got the the one for PT...lol

Received my first in 2004 from Deputy Sec of Def Paul Wolfowitz and still have it to this day. These coins are recognition when an award/medal is not necessary. If you think they are pointless because they don't help career advancement then you clearly don't understand their purpose.

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.