Posted on Nov 24, 2019
Challenge coins: How do you determine their rank?
17.4K
156
97
23
23
0
I have 3 coins, 1 given to me by my company commander at the time (army), 1 given to me by a marine 2nd LT and 1 given by a friend that just says Taskforce Balkh Afghanistan 2012 (army). How would these coins rank if challenged?
Posted in these groups: 
Challenge Coin
Marines
Challenge Coin Marines
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 41
17
17
0
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
CPT William Jones In pre challenge coin days VEEPs gave out keychain. Had one from Gore that finally broke after 10 years of use.
(0)
(0)
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
MSgt James Wright Typical $1K a plate fundraiser but he took the time to talk to all our staff.
(1)
(0)
LCpl Stephen Arnold
I think it depends on the coin. I was challenged by a Sergeant Major who had one from a four star general (can't recall which one.). He never lost a challenge. When I returned from Kosovo, I was privileged to spend a day with a gentleman from the Vietnam War, a retired Command Sergeant Major who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor and was a POW in Vietnam. He gave me a coin at the end of the day, and when I showed it to the Sergeant Major. I joked with him, "I guess yours outranks mine, Sergeant Major" to which he replied, "The hell it does", hit me on the arm and went about his day. I didn't ask the Sergeant Major to do pushups! haha
(1)
(0)
16
16
0
Sidebar CC story: Unbeknownst to me my *friends* armed the best man at my wedding with a coin and I was checked just prior to the “I do.”
(16)
(0)
LCDR Robert S.
CPT (Join to see) - Since you were already providing drinks for everyone, the challenge was superfluous.
(0)
(0)
7
7
0
It's what they mean to you and how you earned them. If the Army coin was given to you in appreciation of a job well done then it may mean much more than a coin given to you by a Marine Officer or a casual "share where I was coin from a friend". If you earn the coin it will always mean more to you than just a casual gift coin. As far as any monetary value most coins are worth about 12-13 bucks or their purchase price at the PX. It's how you earned them that gives them value!
(7)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
Agreed. The 'challenge' game is for fun and does not take away the value of any single coin earned from hard work and appreciation.
(0)
(0)
6
6
0
Shoot me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Kristen is talking about military rank on the coin, e.g. E-8 or O-3, I think she is asking about which coin should she use when challenged. I have 5 or 6 coins from some of the units I served in over 24 years. They are mementos and are tucked away in my treasure box. If anybody challenged me I would laugh and say you got me and go on with whatever I was doing.
(6)
(0)
SFC Ralph E Kelley
Personally I always valued the two Unit Awards I was honored to be awarded.
The Meritorious Unit and Superior Unit Awards are from different assignments and they mean more to me than any of my individual awards.
The Meritorious Unit and Superior Unit Awards are from different assignments and they mean more to me than any of my individual awards.
(1)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
When I go to events that will involve retired members, I carry my SecDef or SecArmy coin.
(0)
(0)
5
5
0
I’ve got one from my recruiter, one I stole from my uncle’s coin box when I was like 10, and one from SMA Dailey... I think I know how they rank.
(5)
(0)
5
5
0
Challenge Coins were started during the Vietnam war to challenge someone claiming to be Special Forces in a bar setting. I believe the coins became an on the spot "atta boy" instead of a letter from the commander for a good job. I have several and only carry one from the Unit. Ranking is a personal matter.
(5)
(0)
PO1 Lyndon Thomas
Definitely. They still honor this tradition in some VFW posts. If someone drops a coin, you challenge them by dropping yours. The coin deemed the most honorable is bought a drink by the loser, or sometimes the loser buys the bar a drink. So, if you visit your local VFW remember to carry your best coin!
(1)
(0)
SPC Casey Ashfield
There is a common myth revolving around it started during WWI as a way to establish pilots shot down behind enemy lines. Just not much evidence of the story.
(0)
(0)
5
5
0
POTUS is highest, though I would really like to get one from "Norton I, Emperor of the United States"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton
(5)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
SFC Ralph E Kelley - And for sure —-> Hail Freedonia (link) w/a Bowl of Duck Soup!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCgHRhHhBAU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCgHRhHhBAU
(1)
(0)
SFC Ralph E Kelley
CPT (Join to see) - Got it in the mail today. LOL I've got it next to my Balboa Dollar.
(1)
(0)
5
5
0
SFC Ralph E Kelley
I bet it does, but the barfly's around the two coin holders would have to decide.
(1)
(0)
LCpl Stephen Arnold
CSM Jon Cavaiani was a POW in Vietnam, and I was honored to meet him many years ago. In fact, I walked into the bar we met at years later (he wasn't there), and realized I didn't have my coin. I gave the barkeep a $20 and told her "Next time the Sergeant Major comes in tell him I forgot my coin" and she laughed and pinned my 20 to the wall. Sadly, he died a few years later, GREAT man.
(0)
(0)
5
5
0
I just noticed the Taskforce Balkh has a tiny LTC and SGT Major rank on the rim of the coin
(5)
(0)
LCpl Stephen Arnold
1SG (Anonymous) - Top, I have a 40th ID coin as well. I got it from CSM Clark in Kosovo when he was TF Falcon CSM for MG Wade and MG Harrell.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
I never really received any special coins, my brother, however was in the Old Guard and received coins from Colin Powell and SMA Kidd!
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google