Talk:Challenge coin

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Requests: image of Mail Call challenge coin for Popular culture headline
Expand: Incorporate the multiple anecdotal origins of the challenge coin and discuss pros and cons of each
Update: need oldest challenge coins on record citations and images

An article by a USMC Corporal (citation #1) can not be regarded as definitive on the origins of the challenge coin tradition, especially since he cites e-mails which were "passed on through the network of senior enlisted Marines." I have also heard origins including Vietnam special ops and British officers "palming" medals to their enlisted subordinates. Does anyone know of more definitive references about the history?

The rule of rewarding the "senior" coin present at a challenge is not recognized by any unit I have served with, including 60th AMW, 100th ARW, or 940th ARW (all USAF units). I added a sentence explaining there can be varying rules, and added this rule to the list of variants. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.6.3.10 (talk) 19:59, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

I've added an image of a USMC birthday celebration coin. It's not technically a challenge coin (too big and heavy for flipping like a quarter) but the heads side design is nearly identical to that of USMC challenge coins, they invariably have the eagle, globe & anchor. On the tails side, they usually have the logo of the unit. They are small enough to flip, but that size also provides difficulties for photographers without the equipment or skill for miniature work. Del arte 22:08, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Challenge coins seem to be coming more widely known in the 'non-military' world. I had first heard about them on the The History Channel's Mail Call show, and know that the show's host R. Lee Ermey has created a challenge coin for the show he gives to military personal. At the recent Boy Scout Jamboree, the LDS Church had a challenge coin they had as a give away item. --emb021

I read in a Challenge Coin Association message board that Ermey is passing out Glock challenge coins now. View thread --JAYMEDINC 14:43, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

My MCT coin was in roughly the shape of a dogtag, including the hole at the top, but much thicker. --Johnny (Cuervo) 08:12, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

I've got an Airforce OSI challenge coin, and a United States Secret Service challenge coin if anyone wants pictures of them for the page post something to my talk page... --Michael Lynn 09:07, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I think the WWI origin of the "challenge coin" likely bogus--the oldest known challenge coins date from the Korean war and this mythical "Army Air Service" coin has never been sited. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.86.116.211 (talk) 18:25, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 17th Infantry Regiment "Buffalo Nickel"

I think this may be the true origin of the "challenge coin". The 17th Infantry Regiment adopted the buffalo as their symbol and began a tradition of challenging each other if they had a "Buffalo nickel". As far as I can tell these are the earliest known challenge coins.

Interesting info here: http://www.7thinfantry.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=95 http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=10256 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._17th_Infantry_Regiment http://www.gotrain.org/~emgeer/coins.html

It would be great if somebody could verify this..

--SRW —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.86.116.211 (talk) 18:40, 6 June 2008 (UTC)