Nice, that's a good one (yes, they are all good).

There is a little chart that helps put it in perspective.

http://www.public.navy.mil/nsw/Documents/NSWC_OrgChart.pdf

 

I've got a few laying around somewhere, let me see if I can dig them up.

 

Thanks for the info Wyatt. Id like to see some more if you can find them

 

Here is one..

 

Sweet. So what's the significance of them? Are they a bragging right tool or can they be traded for something?

 

Lol

Both!

Got this one a few months back while at MacDill

I can't find the case they are in at the moment, I think they are buried in the attic somewhere, I haven't brought them out in years.

 

I never trade mine, Keep them and build a collection.

John

 

This is the history that I've always heard and why it's called a 'challenge' coin...

There are several stories detailing the origins of the challenge coin. According to the most common story, challenge coins originated during World War I. 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 medallion, 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.

 

I never trade mine, Keep them and build a collection.

John

yup

 

Thanks George

 

I don't trade mine either. I've got some from "higher" up than this, but this coin is my favorite. Got in in Iraq working for some SF hitters and BG Phelan was their CO. He also hooked my platoon up with some real beer.

 

Navy challenge coin

I may just turn this into a show your challenge coin thread.

Yall have some good stuff here

 

I've got some to represent all branches of service...except coast guard...

Have a big Air Force 3-star coin and another neat one from a Navy Master Chief in the shape of a dog tag. The biggest coin I've ever seen was a friend's from Operation New Dawn and it was almost as big as a coaster. This guy was a Blackhawk crew chief for VIP flights so he's got coins from Joint Chiefs, SecDef, etc....Cush job

 

This is a very cool thread.

 

This is a very cool thread.

Seconded.

 

Here is the one my dad gave me 23 years ago while he was First Sergeant in 3rd Recon

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My one and only. Given to me shortly after 9/11 by a family friend and the father of Seaman James R. McDaniels, who was killed in the USS Cole bombing. I will always cherish it and the memory of James.

 

I've got one I'll post when I can. A good buddy is a US Marshall and head of a T.O.G. team. Gave my dad and I each one right before my Dad passed away.

 

I've collected these three:

As others have said, I'd never trade or sell them. They're better to keep in my opinion as they usually come with a personal story of how you got it. My brother was in the Secret Service Uniform Division while W was in office and got a bunch of cool ones from checking in guests. I think the "highest" he ever collected was one from the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

I got the USS coin from my brother and the FBI coins from doing the Citizens' Academy here in Charlotte a couple years ago. One of the ASAC's at the Charlotte FBI office has a collection that filled a display about like this (don't know who this guy is, just a representation that I found online...and the FBI guy's collection left no exposed wood on teh display lines):

He came running out of his office with it in his hands to show the group as we were touring the building. Very proud of his collection!

You can get custom ones made of all shapes, sizes, and colors from places like (not endorsing any of them as I've never ordered any):
http://www.customcoinmint.com/
http://www.challengecoin.com/
https://www.google.com/search?q=cus...llen&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.2576j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

I've suggested that my company get them to hand out for doing good work or completing large projects successfully. They get cheaper the more you order. I think they average around $3-$5 each depending on the details and options. So they're really not too bad and offer a much better wow factor than all the other cheesy corporate "gifts" that the Chinese companies will slap your company logo onto. I've suggested giving them out at our trade show booths too instead of yet another company pen or pad of paper. But the marketing folks about crapped a brick when you compare the cost of the coins to a cheap Chinese pen with a logo (remember, multiply it by a few hundred for give away swag at conferences).

 

Larry Correia had a huge range of Monster Hunter International themed challenge coins made last year. I bought them all.

Around here they're given as rewards or attaboys for good work by ship officers or high up shipyard management.

Got to get the Chief in here, I'm sure he's got a pile of coins.

 

Cool thread. I've got a good number of coins stashed away, these are my personal favorites.

I've seen some pretty elaborate coins in the past. Someone spent a good amount of time designing these. My 3rd ID coin is probably my favorite out of my collection, first coin I was given and IMO the best looking one I have.

Keep the pics coming guys!

 

My collection from over the years. Some are actually missing from moving around so much, and being misplaced or snatched.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

I like George's reply about the history of the Challenge coin. I had no heard that before.

The way they were used in the Marine Corps was much simpler (and even the old man, a Marine in Vietnam says they were used the same way then).

If you belonged to a unit that was given challenge coins for some reason, you had better carry it with you at all times. If you found yourself at a watering hole and some one in the group presented the coin (challenged if you will) you had to produce your coin as an answer to the challenge. Anyone caught without their coin had to buy a round for everyone that had theirs.

Edit: I've still got a few from different deployments and units somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig them up.

 

I like George's reply about the history of the Challenge coin. I had no heard that before.

The way they were used in the Marine Corps was much simpler (and even the old man, a Marine in Vietnam says they were used the same way then).

If you belonged to a unit that was given challenge coins for some reason, you had better carry it with you at all times. If you found yourself at a watering hole and some one in the group presented the coin (challenged if you will) you had to produce your coin as an answer to the challenge. Anyone caught without their coin had to buy a round for everyone that had theirs.

Edit: I've still got a few from different deployments and units somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig them up.

thats how we used ours in the af

 

So, we should do something similar as members of CSC. When you join (paying member) you order one/increase membership and have one provided.

However, as I would not want to offend the military tradition since I have never served, we could use something other than a coin. Like a speedo or something.