Post your most impressive challenge coin.

[NoRemorse]

I still have mine

Ditto

[lastcigar]

I still have mine

Me too.

[BR34]

Here's my favorite. It was given to me by Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Kent for winning Marine of the Year.

[Waveslide]

No pic, but I have the 100th anniversary Hospital Corpsman Coin.

[Rocky C]

Here's my favorite. It was given to me by Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Kent for winning Marine of the Year.

WOW!!!
That's SWEET!!!
Congrats Brother

[Lisa 23]

I'm curious, I never heard of challenge coins until 3 or 4 years ago. When did all of this start. When I first heard of them I thought they were awarded for achieving a goal or doing something special. Now I understand that you can buy them on the Internet, or sometimes your unit has them made and hands them out, or people give them away kind of like getting an autograph. I'm not being critical, don't mean to sound that way but just trying to understand.
So is it like collecting souvenir spoons when you're on vacation? Do any of you old Marines remember this and I just missed it. Again not being disrespectful just wondering.
Thanks.

During World War 1, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck. Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilots’ aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine. Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive. Note: A "Coin Check" consists of a Challenge and a Response. 1. RULES: A. The challenge is initiated by drawing your coin, holding it in the air by whatever means possible and state, scream, shout or otherwise verbally acknowledge that you are initiating a coin check. Another, but less vocal method is to firmly place it on the bar, table, or floor (this should produce an audible noise which can be easily heard by those being challenged, but try not to leave a permanent imprint). If you accidentally drop your coin and it makes an audible sound upon impact, then you have just "accidentally" initiated a coin check. (This is called paying the price for improper care of your coin.) B. The response consists of all those persons being challenged drawing their coin in a like manner. C. If you are challenged and are unable to properly respond, you must buy a round of drinks for the challenger and the group being challenged. D. If everyone being challenged responds in the correct manner, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for all those people they challenged. E. Failure to buy a round is a despicable crime and will require that you turn-in your Coin to the issuing agency. 2. WHEN - WHERE: A. Coin checks are permitted, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE. 3. EXCEPTIONS: A. There are no exceptions to the rules. They apply to those clothed or unclothed. At the time of the challenge you are permitted one step and an arms reach to locate your coin. If you still cannot reach it -- SORRY ABOUT THAT! 4. A COIN IS A COIN http://www.coinforce.com/challenge-coin-history.htm

[Quinbo]

I have quite a few but think this one is the coolest.



Solid brass and about the size of a can of chew. They were made from spent brass.

[lastcigar]

A can of chew. That's huge. You must not carry it for the drinking challenge WMarine posted. That's a cool drinking game, I'm sure we would have done it in Nam if it was around. Come to think of it we did pretty good with other drinking games. SF big time.

[Wheels123]

Deputy Commandant for Aviation- LtGen Trautman. Got it for picking him up from Hickam AFB.

[Whitey]

So i never quite understood this. in order to win the challenge noone can have a coin that matches yours but if everyone does you lose?

[Lisa 23]

Well, the way I read the rules and when I've been challenged, is that if you cannot produce a challenge coin when challenged, you're the one buying a round of beers! If everyone is able to produce their challenge coins, then the person doing the challenge must buy a round of beers.
To me, a challenge coin is a challenge coin whether you have the same one as someone else or not.

[Quinbo]

A friend of mine at the base watering hole got coined one night. He pulled out a ranger coin and the guy said ohh mine beats yours I have (fill in the blank). My friend said I'll be right back. He trotted over to the hotel and came back with a whole bag of coins. He laid out a Sec Def, a Delta Force, CMC and on and on. Everyone of these coins that beats yours your gonna buy a round for the bar. That dude shut up real quick LOL.

I'm with Lisa a coin is a coin.

[JRHD72]

Challenge coins were never thought of when I was in. I collect cigarrettte lighters. My proudest possession is a ronson lighter. It was presented by Lemuel C. Sheppard to his personal pilot. ( pilots initials are C.A.W.) I am still trying to identify who CAW was? I have all Vietnam CMC's except uncle LEW!
Any one who can help me identify CAW, the help would be gratefully appreciated.

[Deduke]

Colonel Wesley Fox.

[Quinbo]

Holy catfish! You have a colonel fox coin? That is freakin awesome!

Point of interest: Colonel Fox was the last active duty medal of honor recipient prior to the current wars.

I tried unsuccessfully last year to acquire a Jack Lucas coin.