Posted on Sep 2, 2015
PFC Joseph Levi
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If you are a challenge coin collector and want to help out a veteran owned organization that needs financial support, come visit this site to get your very own Purple Heart Acres challenge coin. To be more specific when I said "challenge coin collector" I meant earning and keeping them. Since you have them because they each have their own story on how you acquired them. I just wanted to point out that this Veteran Organization, Purple Heart Acres, is in need for financial help and moreso getting their name out to our brothers and sisters in arms. Maybe my question should have asked, Would you purchase a challenge coin knowing it will benefit a non-profit organization owned by a Veteran, serving Veterans?

http://www.purpleheartacres.com/
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Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 11
TSgt Kevin Buccola
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Don't collect challenge coins - I earned them. I will be more than happy to donate funds - but keep the coin.
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PFC Joseph Levi
PFC Joseph Levi
>1 y
I elaborated what I meant by my question by editing my original post. I didn't mean it in the way it seems to translate to, I meant being earned, but would you purchase a coin if it had it's own story knowing it helped an organization owned by a Vet?
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SCPO David Lockwood
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I have roughly 75 coins to my collection.
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SFC Terry Fortune
SFC Terry Fortune
>1 y
Don't have that many, but do have a few.
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LCDR Vice President
LCDR (Join to see)
>1 y
I have a lot but I don't think I have 75. With the exception of the generic ones each one was a gift, many from the CO of the ships or squadron. One of the most notable of those is the real silver commissioning coin for the USS San Antonio (LPD-17) but all have an emotional attachment. Especially my CPO coin given to me by my sponsor after initiation.
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SSgt Senior It Security Analyst
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Do you carry around SCPO coins?

I was given an Essex SEL coin. I believe that's what it was. Could have just been a Chief's coin.

I don't have many challenge coins, but the ones I do have and cherish the most are the ones from high points in my Air Force Career. Airman's coin for finishing week 5 of BMT and ALS coin for finishing Airman Leadership School.
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PFC Joseph Levi
PFC Joseph Levi
>1 y
I do not have as many as that, nowhere near. But maybe since I was only in for 4 years that would be a good reason why. I have a total of 6 coins earned though.
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LCDR Vice President
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History of the challenge coin
Manny different version have been put forth, one is from a wealthy pilot in WWI but, my personal favorite was told to me by the Ship’s Boatswain when I was a young lad sailing the Mediterranean sea for the first time.
Challenge coins date back to the day of sail when pirates and privateers would often melt down their loot and coin common denominations with their own seal because they had no money sanctioned by a crown, the first because of his trade and the second because they often operated too far from home to maintain enough in their coffers to pay for the necessities of a long voyage. Often these coins were used to pay the ship’s crew. These crew members, most often the Men at Arms (Marines), would find their way to the local pubs to spend some of their spoils. When it came time to pay they would slap the coin down on the old rickety wooden bar and as they pulled their hand away the other patrons would peer over to see what seal their coinage boar. Mostly to see the crown, needless to say someone with a British coin in a bar full of Spanish or French sailors normally ended in a brawl. Yet in some cases a crest other then the crown would be revealed. No doubt Blackbeard’s crest was the Jolly Rogers and would licit fear in the other patrons. Coins from the privateer Bonhome Richard would no doubt illicit admiration for the Navy of the young country standing up against the British Empire. It was not uncommon for those patrons to show respect for those sailors by buying them rounds so as to loosen their tongues and hear the tails of heroism on the sea the bearer had experienced.
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