Challenge coin

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The obverse of a U.S. Marine Corps birthday ball medallion.

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and is carried by the organization’s members. They are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale.^[1]

1 Origins of the challenge coin in USA
2 Challenging
3 Other considerations
4 Cost
5 Uses for the challenge coin
6 United States Air Force
7 Challenge coins in popular culture
8 Challenge coins outside of the military
9 Canada
10 Switzerland
11 Notes
12 References
13 External links

[edit] Origins of the challenge coin in USA

Like so many other aspects of military tradition, the origins of the challenge coin are a matter of much debate with little supporting evidence. While many organizations and services claim to have been the originators of the challenge coin, the most commonly held view is that the tradition began in the United States Army Air Service (a forerunner of the current United States Air Force).

Air warfare was a new phenomenon during World War I. When the army created flying squadrons they were manned with volunteer pilots from every walk of civilian life. While some of the early pilots came from working class or rural backgrounds, many were wealthy Ivy League students who withdrew from classes in the middle of the year, drawn by the adventure and romance of the new form of warfare.

As the legend goes,^[2]^[1] one such Ivy Leaguer, a wealthy lieutenant, ordered small, solid-bronze medallions (or coins) struck, which he then presented to the other pilots in his squadron as mementos of their service together. The coin was gold-plated, bore the squadron’s insignia, and was quite valuable. One of the pilots in the squadron, who had never owned anything like the coin, placed it in a leather pouch he wore around his neck for safekeeping. A short while later, this pilot’s aircraft was heavily damaged by ground fire (other sources claim it was an aerial dogfight), forcing him to land behind enemy lines and allowing him to be captured by the Germans. The Germans confiscated the personal belongings from his pockets, but they didn’t catch the leather pouch around his neck. On his way to a permanent prisoner of war facility, he was held overnight in a small German-held French village near the front. During the night, the town was bombarded by the British, creating enough confusion to allow the pilot to escape.

The pilot avoided German patrols by donning civilian attire, but all of his identification had been confiscated so he had no way to prove his identity. With great difficulty, he sneaked across no-man’s land and made contact with a French patrol. Unfortunately for him, the French had been on the lookout for German saboteurs dressed as civilians. The French mistook the American pilot for a German saboteur and immediately prepared to execute him.

This challenge coin commemorates the imminent promotion of Marine Colonel Yurovich to CAG of CVW-9.

Desperate to prove his allegiance and without any identification, the pilot pulled out the coin from his leather pouch and showed it to his French captors. One of the Frenchmen recognized the unit insignia on the coin and delayed the execution long enough to confirm the pilot’s identity.

Once the pilot safely returned to his squadron, it became a tradition for all members to carry their coin at all times. To ensure compliance, the pilots would challenge each other to produce the coin. If the challenged couldn’t produce the coin, he was required to buy a drink of choice for the challenger; if the challenged could produce the coin, the challenger would purchase the drink.

Another tradition dates to US Military personnel assigned to occupy post World War Two Germany. With the exchange rate, the West German One Pfennig coin was worth only a fraction of a U.S. Cent, and they were thus generally considered not having enough value to be worth keeping - unless you were broke! At any place where servicemen would gather for a beer, if a soldier called out "Pfennig Check" everyone had to empty their pockets to show if they were saving any West German Pfennigs. If a soldier could produce a Pfennig, - it meant that he was nearly broke, … and if a soldier could not produce a Pfennig, it meant that he had enough money to not bother saving them, - and thus enough money to buy the next round.

This tradition spread to other military units in all branches of service and even to non military organizations. Today, challenge coins are given to members upon joining an organization, as an award to improve morale, and sold to commemorate special occasions or as fundraisers.

President Bill Clinton displayed several racks of challenge coins, which had been given to him by U.S. servicemembers, on the credenza behind his Oval Office desk. These coins are currently on display at the Clinton Library. The challenge coins appear in the background of his official portrait, now hanging in the White House.

President George W. Bush received a challenge coin from a Marine combat patrol unit during his short but unexpected visit to Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.[1]

In 2008, Leatherneck Magazine gives a 90th Anniversary Leatherneck Challenge Coin to a select few readers who send in letters to their Sound Off section which the editors particularly like.^[3]

[edit] Challenging

The tradition of a challenge is the most common way to ensure that members are carrying their unit's coin. Unfortunately, the rules of a challenge are not always formalized for a unit, and may vary between organizations. This may lead to some controversy when challenges are initiated between members of different organizations. The challenge, which can be held at any time, begins with the challenger drawing his/her coin, and slapping or placing the coin on the table or bar. In noisy environs, continuously rapping the challenge coin on a surface may initiate the challenge. (Accidentally dropping a challenge coin is considered to be a deliberate challenge to all present.) Everyone being challenged must immediately produce the coin for their organization and anyone failing to do so must buy a round of drinks for the challenger and everyone else who has their challenge coin. However, should everyone challenged be able to produce their coin, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for the group. Variant rules may include additions such as the following: If you are able to steal a challenge coin everyone in the group must buy you a drink. During a challenge everyone in the group must buy you a drink if you are the holder of the highest ranking coin. Some units provide strict time limits to respond to a challenge.

[edit] Other considerations

One feature of challenge coins is it takes a conscious effort to carry one at all times. Traditionally, rules of a challenge include a prohibition against defacing the coin, especially if it makes it easier to carry at all times. If the challenge coin is attached to a belt buckle or key ring, or has had a hole drilled in it to attach to a lanyard, it no longer qualifies as a challenge coin.[2][3] A generally safe place to carry a coin is in a pouch worn around the neck (like the pilot in the legend). Carrying a challenge coin in the wallet is problematic because the distinctive circular bulge identifies the individual as a military member—a serious security consideration in many places—and because it can loosely resemble a condom (and therefore open the individual up to jokes from friends). Some unit rules specifically prohibit carrying a challenge coin in a wallet.[4]

[edit] Cost

Challenge coins are moderately expensive to have made; as of 2005 in the United States, typical costs run about US$250 to set up the die and then from US$7.00 to as low as US$2.50 per coin to stamp, depending on quantity, colors, textures, and so on. Challenge coins, as of 2007, can be found much cheaper as makers are becoming more plentiful in today's collectible market. Thus, a run of 25 coins may cost about US$425 total (US$17 each), while a run of 1000 coins may cost about $2750 total (US$2.75 each). Common coins can be found for less than US$5 each, while others will run over US$100 each if they are rare authentic coins from a high ranking military officer.

As of 2007, coins manufactured in China typically cost about US$100 for the die and US$1.00 to US$2.00 per coin. When these coins are purchased from a US Company, the customer's costs will significantly increase.

Many challenge coins are fabricated in South Korea, as the connection to the US military bases there is strong, and costs are cheaper than US made coins.

[edit] Uses for the challenge coin

Besides using coins for challenging, they are also used as rewards or awards. They are used as a tool to build morale. In the context as they are used by the modern U.S. military, the tradition probably began amongst Special Forces units during the Vietnam War. The tradition spread through the Airborne community, and by the early 1980s also into the 75th Infantry "Rangers." As officers were reassigned as their careers progressed, they carried with them the tradition of awarding a unit coin for acts that were worthy of recognition, but yet lacked enough merit to submit the soldiers act for an official medal. Challenge Coins were not very common until the First Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, and have steadily grown in popularity since. While most soldiers are happy to receive an award of any type, some feel that there are so many coins being given out now that their value has been cheapened.

[5] Some collectors buy them for their numismatic value.

[edit] United States Air Force

Every Airman receives the Airman's coin upon graduation from Basic Training.[6]

One widely known challenge coin in the United States Air Force was the "Bull Dog" challenge coin that was exclusive to B-52 enlisted tail gunners. Since the B-52 gunner position is no longer in existence, this famous challenge coin has become more rare.

[edit] Challenge coins in popular culture

At the end of the long-running American adventure drama television show JAG, the two main characters decide to marry, then flip a challenge coin to decide who will resign his or her military commission to accompany the other to a new duty station. The final image freezes with the coin in the air; the audience never sees it fall.

Colonel Eli McNulty coins Samantha Liston in E-Ring when she is running to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and a General is trying to put a stop to it. At one point the General initiates the 'Coin Check' to show that she should not have a senior job as she has not seen combat and, of course, Liston has no challenge coin - thus proving his point.

[edit] Challenge coins outside of the military

The popularity of challenge coins are stretching past the military. NASCAR [7], the NFL and World Series of Poker all have their own challenge coins. They are also becoming extremely popular with Police Departments, Fire Departments and Fraternal Organizations. In 2007, the Utah Symphony and Opera gave challenge coins to all of its staff and musicians, making it the first symphony organization in America to embrace the challenge coin tradition.^{[citation needed]} Coins do not have to be given to someone to be called a Challenge Coin, as many non-governmental organizations sell challenge coins to fundraise or promote their products or services.

[edit] Canada

Every new officer cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is issued a Challenge coin upon completion of First Year Orientation Period. The Coin is engraved with the name of the College in French and English surrounding the College Crest on the obverse. The Cadet's college number and the Memorial Arch is on the reverse surrounded by the Motto in both languages.^{[citation needed]}

The obverse side of a current-issue Canadian Forces Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch challenge coin, bearing the member's branch number, surmounted by the EME - GEM badge.

Members of the Canadian Forces Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch Fund are issued challenge coins with the current EME-GEM badge and the member's branch fund membership number on the obverse side, and the original RCEME badge and branch motto on the reverse side. Usually, these are issued to Craftsmen at the Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, in Borden, ON, where branch fund membership is first offered. (See image)

[edit] Switzerland

The challenge coin tradition was introduced into the Swiss Armed Forces by American officers on training missions and other assignments for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, of which Switzerland is a member. Coins are not issued, but rather ordered and paid for by Swiss officers of various branches within the Army.

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b "Challenge Coin", GlobalSecurity.org. Accessed 10 March 2008. "Commanders use specially minted military coins to improve morale, foster unit esprit [de corps] and honor service members for their hard work. ... In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit."
^ Cpl. Wil Acosta, "History of the challenge coin", Marine Corps News March 4, 2005. Copied at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/03/mil-050304-usmc03.htm Accessed 10 March 2008
^ R. R. Keane, reply to William F. Storm's letter to Sound Off, Leatherneck XCI 1 January (2008): 2