My top...4...

Sec. of Defense Gates
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ADM Mullen
Army Chief of Staff
and the U.S. European Command Commander


I'd rather have some Coast Guard coins, but it's hard to be challenged when you're carrying the Sec. of Defense's coin.

My current best is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Had about 15 others but they were taken when my house was robbed (damn crackheads).

I googled "Coin check" "History" and "Regulation" and came up with this. It is not the end all, be, all, but it provides one with the basics.

COIN CHECK RULES

Challenge is made by displaying coin on a hard surface.
Response is made by displaying coin on a hard surface within 10 seconds of Challenge (+ / - 30 seconds).
Unsuccessful response obligates you to the challenger for the drink of their choice.
Successful response obligates Challenger to the drink of your choice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Military Coin History

The U.S. Military has a longstanding list of traditions. One of the lesser-known traditions is the Military Challenge or Unit coin.

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 midterm 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 sack about his neck.

Shortly after acquiring the medallions, this pilot's 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 donned civilian clothes and 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 into a French outpost. Unfortunately, the French in this sector of the front 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 to be 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 with 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 challenger could not produce his coin, he was required to purchase a drink of choice for the member who had challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, then 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.

Among elite units, the tradition is prevalent to carry some type of device which readily identifies unit members, past and present, and also provides the opportunity for an inspection of the unit's esprit de corps and purpose.

The military coin, minted in a number of metals, including sterling, is approximately 1 ½ to 2" in diameter. The coin carries the motto's or slogans of the particular unit manufacturing it. In addition to any official motto is usually a likeness of the unit flash or crest.

Nearly every Special Forces unit has minted its own version of the coin; however, the 10th Special Forces can be credited with fostering the tradition for a unit coin. In July 1969, Colonel Vernon E. Green, Group commander, designed and had manufactured the 10th Group coin. On the obverse, or front, is the inscription: "10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces." In the center of the coin is the Trojan Horse crest, the original SF crest worn during the 1950s, and below, the words "Trojan Horse." The reverse side is inscribed with the Special Forces motto "De Oppresso Liber" and "The Best."

Once the 10th Group coin was minted, the tradition began, calling for each Group member, past and present, to procure and carry a coin at all times. In addition to active or former Group personnel owning coins, they have been presented to friends and foreign Special Forces soldiers at the close of joint country training, as momentos.

The actual history of the challenge initiated by one unit member to another by demanding to see his coin varies greatly. According to legend, the original coin check was done only by the senior man present, who did it for the sole purpose of ensuring each man's team spirit (in which case, all would be carrying a coin). The purpose of this drill was to check morale.

Nowadays this is primarily a dare, by extracting the coin and slamming it down onto the tabletop or tossing it to the floor. The loud "ping!" produced by the bounding coin is a challenge to all present to produce their coins, or end up buying a round of drinks. This method of the "coin check" is the most prevalent today.

There have been many attempts to established a set of rules for the coin challenge to ensure uniformity. Regardless of any "coin regulation," most prefer to carry their coins, not only to show their pride with their, but also to save money on drinks they may have to buy if caught without it.

Semper Paratus, and be a Guardian
AUX Dittman

quote:

Until recently, I had a Way to Go pin that the Secretary of Transportation gave to everyone on the TAMAROA, but I lost the hat that it was on.

...I think mine went over the side with a lot of others when he gave them to the Sta CC 41ft that was steaming next to us......

I have a few coins (I don't vie to collect them) but the most important coin to me is the one our son gave us when he graduated BCT/AIT in the Army; it reads 'Proud Parent of a Soldier'. Fast forward a few years, I went to an Army ta-do and of course, they played the 'whip out the coins boys and girls' and I brought mine out thinking it was such a wimpy coin compared to some of the other purty ones. That couldn't be farther from the truth, I was told. Lets just say I never had to buy any of my drinks for the rest of the evening.

Other than that one, I don't need no stankin' coins in my pocket. LOL

Lisa;
Hey, seeing you here reminded me of another one I have and prize! It is my 2007 Patriot Edition Harley Davidson serialized Owner's coin!

Had a nice ride into work this AM!

All these stories, and the different coins is very cool.

I have started to hear the different "ranking" of the coins. I am not sure I agree with the practice as the value of the coin IMHO is the story, person's attachment, or situation, that caused you to get the coin not the position or rank of the person presenting it or unit upon it. I have a coin from the President because a friend who met him told him about me and the president asked my friend to give me the coin. Very cool, but, I also have a coin given to me by a second class who was one of my students. Which coin do you think out ranks the other in my view???

So, while I'm not discounting the added spice of the game, I am not sure about "wimpy coins" and alike. I think all coins have value and show our attachment to the uniform we ware, or support, and the country we serve.

Semper Paratus, and be a Guardian
AUX Dittman

P.S. why would people throw covers, or was it the pin over the side?

quote:

P.S. why would people throw covers, or was it the pin over the side?

lapel pins.
Short version, just got back to the pier after a week in the "Perfect Storm," rescuing the folks from the Satori and then the ANG helo and search for Sgt Smith. DOT ordered us to Mass Maritime to come aboard and thank us. He passed out his 'way to go' lapel pins to us. He noticed a Sta Capr Cod Canal 41 going by, waived them over and tossed some lapel pins to them. Now, as you just stated, the value behind something like that is the story, not the person. When it went from 'thanking us for the PS Rescue' to 'a $0.20 pin from the S-1 to any Coastie he saw,' the personal value for many dropped to nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
Lisa;
Hey, seeing you here reminded me of another one I have and prize! It is my 2007 Patriot Edition Harley Davidson serialized Owner's coin!

Had a nice ride into work this AM!

Oh MC, I've seen those coins; a friend of ours also has one of those Patriot Edition bikes; one of those Geezer Glides. Shoot! We need to start another motorcycle thread. Ride safe! Enjoy the weathah.

Back to coins.

Ouch, I can see where that would suck. Unless, the sectran felt the 41 maybe was involved in the rescue as well yet was mistaken?

Oh well, as we all have heard, one oh crap wipes out loads of ata boys.

quote:

Originally posted by kb5ujm:
All these stories, and the different coins is very cool.

I have started to hear the different "ranking" of the coins. I am not sure I agree with the practice as the value of the coin IMHO is the story, person's attachment, or situation, that caused you to get the coin not the position or rank of the person presenting it or unit upon it. I have a coin from the President because a friend who met him told him about me and the president asked my friend to give me the coin. Very cool, but, I also have a coin given to me by a second class who was one of my students. Which coin do you think out ranks the other in my view???

So, while I'm not discounting the added spice of the game, I am not sure about "wimpy coins" and alike. I think all coins have value and show our attachment to the uniform we ware, or support, and the country we serve.

Semper Paratus, and be a Guardian
AUX Dittman

P.S. why would people throw covers, or was it the pin over the side?

I am hoping you will say that they President's coin is better than the PO2's...I'm really hoping that.

Upon reflection, perhaps some clearity is in order...

I respect our Commander and Chief, and feel very very honored he asked my friend to pass on his coin to me. The student's coin holds just as much of a place of honor in my book because of the reason it was given. So what I mean is that a coin from a PO2 and our President can hold the same value.

Does that help?

Semper Paratus, and be a Guardian
AUX Dittman

Commander in Chief. Spelling and grammar count if you want your point taken seriously. I'm far from an English major but your spelling and grammar, along with your incessant use of the term Guardian and skewed view of the Coast Guard make your posts very difficult to bear.
CWO A

CWO A.

Perhaps you’d care to sign your postings so that I can confront you directly? I have asked you a question on another thred, and you saw fit not to respond to me. I will ask again, you sent me some advice, to what email address did you send it?

As for “Commander In Chief”, thank you for the correction, I fully admit, spelling is an issue as having learned through audio, and the education system not requiring a blind student to spell, I spell things as they sound. Not to worry though, I still have a BA in mass communications from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an AA in radio, TV, Film from San Antonio Community College, and just took my Law School Admisions test. The JAWS (Job Access With Speech) system often pronounces things that sound the same. “Commander In Chief” sounds very much like “Commander And Chief.” I am sure you see what I mean.
The first chance I have, I will buy myself a Braille display however they are priced at about $6,000 the last time I looked. While it is true I could ask the Coast Guard to issue me one, and they have already offered, I turned them down as I thought it better to use the funds that would take up for TAD assignments. I hope you understand.

My use of the term guardian. Well, guess you missed the memo where the Commandant said that it is to be taken up by all in the Coast Guard, and we even have an ethos that spells out what that term means. For your reference, I will type it from memory.

“I am America’s maritime Guardian, I serve the citizens of the United States. I will protect them, I will defend them, I will save them, I am their shield. For them I am Semper Paratus. I live the Coast Guard corps values..."

I use the term because I am a Guardian, and we CWO A are the United States Coast Guard.

As to my skewed view of the Coast Guard, I have a view after eight years with the Coast Guard as one of its Auxiliarists. In that time I have stood watch on a cutter underway, I have stood watch at a sector, graduated from Cape May’s Reserve Enlisted Basic Indoctrination, taught Leadership and Management school, and currently serve the Commandant as a member of his diversity advisory council.

I have had good times as in 2006 when I represented the Coast Guard when I completed the Marine Corps marathon, and hard times when I sounded taps at my Uncle GM3 Ken McNulty, USCG (RET) funeral when we layed him to rest at TRACEN Yorktown.


I have made life long friends, took on missions that seamed impossible, and made a real difference for those who will come after me.
My view of our Coast Guard isn’t skewed, it represents the experiences I have had. Experiences, many who are on active duty, and who can see may never have. I have a view because I love the Coast guard, the only service that tells those who are disabled, “YES!” We can put your talents to work, put on our uniform and serve alongside us, and we will (most anyway) treat you the same and accept you for what you do, not what you can’t do.

CWO A, if that is skewed, then I hope other Guardians have as much pride to be a Guardian as I do.

I hope this helps. And, I’m waiting for that email. Or, give me a call, my number is in the global.

Semper Paratus, and be a Guardian
AUX Dittman who has the Guts to sign his posts.

CWO A. may not care to sign his posts because of the fact that when "USCG" is next to his name...it's a career to him. I personally don't need to hear another sob story.

Just to point out one thing, CWO A does sign his posts, check the profile. (OK, not clear which of the two is posting, but still, it is signed)

LIS - I am a little worried about dragging this too far off topic, but in my opinion (which isn't an better than yours) the folks who consider it a CAREER would sign their name. The folks that think of it as a paycheck and a job are the ones who will not.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
....the folks who consider it a CAREER would sign their name. The folks that think of it as a paycheck and a job are the ones who will not.

Amen to that, Master Chief.

As an aside, I've been reading this thread and wondering how many millions of dollars are spent by military units to make 'challenge coins' per year.

I do have a few that have been given to me over the past few years. A couple of them are very meaningful. How appropriate is it for the military services to buy commemorative coins in the midst of an economic downturn (and two shooting wars going on)?

LT O

Through out my whole hitch, boot camp, honor guard, asm school , sai school, I never heard a word spoken about challenge coins. We did some work with Canadian CG, and other services and not a boo?

LT;
The rules for gov't purchase of, and then the distribution of, coins are VERY strict, to include a full accounting of WHO EVERY coin went to.

Now, that said, you would find that a LOT of people who do give out coins, myself included, purchase them from their own funds. The paper work I filled out to do so was extensive, and the aprroving official is a complete bear, but when I bought her a new car, she approved the purchase of more coins!

Other purchases are made from non-operating expenses, like morale money. Sometimes they are paid for by other private sources, like the other coin I control, which was paid for by the Chiefs in the Mess.

I'd would bet a majority of coins are not funded by operating expense money.

quote:

Originally posted by asm3driscoll:
Through out my whole hitch, boot camp, honor guard, asm school , sai school, I never heard a word spoken about challenge coins. We did some work with Canadian CG, and other services and not a boo?

...hmmm. You might want to contact the Honor Guard then. They use(d) the same company that I do. Add the www to this emilitarycoins.com/products.php?catid=10 and you can see their coin. Or - you can use just the base address and click coin showcase and see a lot of neat coins they have done.