Anyone still participate in this ancient ritual? aka coin checking,dropping coins into beer pitches,etc. What is your favorite coin that you have in your collection, Also what coin do you carry around with you?

I career around my port dawg coin. I got it in tech school and I'd say it's my favorite coin. Although I have to say it was pretty cool receiving the NSA coin.

I forgot to add that I've never had anyone coin check me or follow the rules when I've coin checked them.

Before being stationed in Europe where doing such things could be bad OPSEC in some people's eyes, and even now if I do it on the base club I get a lot of rolled eyes. Seems people in my military circle dislike this tradition, or just don't wanna shell out to buy a round. I personally like the few coins I've received (they're SUPER hard to come by in my comm careerfield). My favorite is from the USAFE IG, for a good inspection.

I have one that I received from my commander back at Scott which probably means the least to me. I was at a CC call which I didn't expect anything from and suddenly my name was called. My citation was ridiculous, "SrA L----- helped a customer in A4" no specifics at all, I helped dozens of people a day why did this one stand out? Then my name was followed by a few dozen other names... that's when it hit me, my unit the 868th CS was to become the 375th CS the next day, and apparently there must've been a surplus of 868 CS CC coins... my sudden proud moment suddenly sunk. I'll admit, I kept the coin, it's more of a funny story I tell friends about now.

Still a very active thing in Aircrew. You don't want to go TDY and go out to dinner without it. As for the one I carry, always the coin of the current squadron I am in. My favorite would have to be the coin I recieved from Gen Charles Horner in 1992. He came to Tinker for some award function and flew with my crew. During the flight he presented everyone on the crew with a coin.

Some squadrons I have been in penalize you for even saying "coin". It is just like dropping it. Thus the term RMO or round metallic object.

Very cool Topic PowerProRanger

quote:

Originally posted by caninedale:
Some squadrons I have been in penalize you for even saying "coin". It is just like dropping it. Thus the term RMO or round metallic object.

Yep. Matter of fact, the only place I ever heard the term "coin" used was in the Air Force. Everyone else I'd come across used the term RMO.

Me, I carry mine from the 58th Fighter Squadron - "When Gorillas Fly, MiGs Die".

I had one from Air Force One, given to me by a close friend. It was one of my favorites, so I slipped it in my Uncle's coat pocket at his funeral. He was an Air Force vet, and I didn't want him headed to the big NCO Club in the sky unarmed.

Cheers, Sully

This was passed to me from one of my Chief's I worked with years ago.....Sorry for the long posting.....

Challenge Coin History

During World War I, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled 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 carrying the squadron emblem for every member of his squadron. He himself carried his medallion in a small leather pouch around his neck.

Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilot's aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was force 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 and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, the French in this sector had been plagued by saboteurs. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him a saboteur and made ready to execute him. Just in time, he remembered his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners. His French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion and delayed 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 a tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through a challenge in the following manner: a challenger would ask to see the coin. If the challenged could not produce his coin, he was required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for many years after, while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.

To this day, the fighting men and women of the armed forces of the United States of America, proudly continue this tradition. In honor of this tradition, a custom coin has been made for all Law Enforcement Edged Weapon Tactics certified Officers and Military personnel.

The Rules
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 those that are being challenged respond in the correct manner, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for all those people he challenged.

e. Failure to buy a round is a despicable crime and will require that you turn-in your Coin to the challenger and you must walk around with your head down for the remainder of the evening as you have dishonored yourself and everyone who has earned the right to posses the coin.

2. Coin checks are permitted, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE. (Keep your situation in mind, be smart!)

3. 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. Coins attached on belt buckles are considered "belt buckles." Coins on key chains are considered "key chains." Coins placed in a "holder/clasp" and worn around the neck like a necklace are valid per the history of the coin, and are considered a coin.

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"Coining" is a relatively new U.S. military tradition, but has roots in the Roman Empire, where coins were presented to reward achievements. In the U.S. military, the tradition goes back to the early 1960s. A member of the 11th Special Forces Group took old coins, had them over-stamped with a different emblem, then presented them to unit members, according to Roxanne Merritt, curator of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum at Fort Bragg, N.C.

A former commander of the 10th SFG picked up on the idea, becoming the first to mint a unit coin for a U.S. military unit. The 10th Group remained the only Army unit with its own coin until the mid-1980s, Merritt said, when "an explosion took place and everybody started minting coins." Originally, the coins, which bear the unit crest on the front and whatever design the unit wants on the back, were given out by commanders and sergeants major to recognize outstanding acts performed by soldiers in the course of duty.

"They're a real morale booster," said Duvall, "and tell the soldier, 'you're a member of our unit' which builds unit cohesion. The soldiers carry their credit card, driver's license and unit coin - their wallets are permanently deformed." Don Phillips, a former commander of the 20th SFG, designed a coin for his unit and presented it to his soldiers when he retired. "Another unit asked me to make a coin for them, and then another, so I went into business making them," said Phillips. To date, Phillips has made coins for "between 600 and 700 units." The tradition has spread to the other services and is even being adopted by paramilitary units like the U.S. Marshall's SWAT team, according to Phillips.

The proliferation of coins and their availability to the general public in post gift shops has caused Dr. Joseph Fisher, Special Operations Command historian, to view them as "not as special as they used to be; there are so many of them out there now." But that doesn't stop Fisher from carrying his with him at all times.

Making the coins available for purchase has added yet another dimension to the tradition - collecting. SMA Richard A. Kidd has approximately 300 of the coins on display in his office "museum." He has even issued an open invitation to soldiers visiting the Washington, D.C., area to stop by his office "even when I'm not here" to see his collection of unit memorabilia.

According to Phillips, World War II soldiers were given a coin when they mustered out of the service.

But it wasn't until the Vietnam era that a "challenge-response" was added to the tradition of giving unit members a coin. The initial challenge was to prove membership in a particular unit by producing the unit coin.

That was followed by the addition of the requirement to "buy a round" if a soldier didn't have the coin. "Buying a round isn't the only challenge these days," said Phillips. "Drinking is frowned on, so the challenge can be anything. If you don't have your coin, you get the detail." Kidd still uses the original premise in distributing coins and carries some with him whenever he travels. "It's a way to immediately recognize above-and-beyond - the-call-of-duty actions on the part of a soldier when you're in the field," said Kidd

Never, ever be caught without your coin!

We use to do coin checking in our shop till some folks came in and you would coin check them. Their response...."I'm not buying chit..." Thus the end of that due to folks being negative. I remember being in Ruby Tuesdays, we almost got booted out cause folks would go to the bathroom and next thing you know a coin would be at the bottom of the pitcher and you'd have to drink the beotch You could just see the nasty looks on families trying to eat. LOL Me personally I like to get a nice, I mean nice with color you know what I mean challenge coin over a decoration anyday. Usually a story comes with a coin, and yeah yeah decorations are worth points,blah blah but in the end if you just study and keep out of trouble you'll test fine and make rank

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PowerProRanger01,

My favorite coin was given to me by a Navy EOD Lt Commander after I worked for him during an exercise. Totally unexpectedly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out this coin, and gave it to me. In front of just a few folks as we were cleaning up after 8 weeks of work, just "Here, I want to give this to you, thanks for busting your azz for us..."

Unfortunately, coins are a reminder of a less PC time, when drinking and rabble rousing was accepted and even encouraged. I miss those days...

I have a few chief coins that I had personalized so when I see someone bust there hump or kick ass on an inspection I'll coin them. I had a troop win the levitow award at the NCO academy and one get homor grad at ALS, coined them. They always seem to have a huge smile when they get them. I remember coining a Army PFC one time. He helped us out on an exercise. I coined him and also put him and 2 of his co workers in for the AF achievment medal. They Freaked out when they recieved them. At our SR NCO dinning ins they always to a coin check and fine those that do not have them.

The Thunderbirds Squadron very actively participates with this tradition!! Every team member is given a coin when the "officially" become apart of the team, and its carried anywhere the individual goes. You could coin check ANY team member, and 99.9% of the time, they will pull out their coin.

My favorite coin is our Swing Shift coin, we are a very tight group and we all came up with a pretty cool design.

Best coin check I ever saw was in Panama. Guy was in the shower and had been drinking a lot of guys beers from the checks. Another guy barges in and checks him while in the shower. Guy in shower had been expecting it somehow and was clinching his coin in butt cheeks. Releases it and and wins the challenge. Obviously it was a set up, but damn it was funny at the time.

In the "cheeks"? I only thought Chiefs and 1st Sergeants were that hard core. What did the round of drinks consist of? Just curious.

quote:

Originally posted by BadBender:
In the "cheeks"? I only thought Chiefs and 1st Sergeants were that hard core. What did the round of drinks consist of? Just curious.

Being a current Chief and a former Shirt, I resemble that remark!

quote:

Originally posted by caninedale:
Guy in shower had been expecting it somehow and was clinching his coin in butt cheeks. Releases it and and wins the challenge. Obviously it was a set up, but damn it was funny at the time.

LMAO, clenching his cheeks.....HAHAHAHAH