There is no job in America that is more mysterious or carries with it more secrecy than the job of the president of the United States. Every part of their life appears to be steeped in traditions that millions of Americans are beguiled by.

Even something as simple as a handshake in the presidential world could appear innocuous. But what many don’t know is that some presidential handshakes become revered for generations when they also exchange the infamous presidential challenge coins.

Learn more about the brief but distinguished mystery of one of America’s best kept secrets that lie within the glories of presidential challenge coins.

What are Challenge Coins?

A challenge coin is a token that has been given to members in service in a long-standing military tradition that goes back to World War II. The tradition includes a handshake wherein the coin is passed from one mate to another.

It’s a tradition that exists not just in the military, but in the Boy Scouts, Star Wars cosplay members, Harley Davidson, and many more.

They are coins that run approximately 2 inches in diameter and are approximately one-tenth of an inch thick. But each style and design differs from one individual to the next, and certainly, each presidential challenge coin is as unique as the president that designed it.

One legend has it that the first challenge associated with challenge coins occurred during World War II when German soldiers were known to pass coins to each other as a form of challenge in comradery to their mates when out at the local pub.

If a coin was given to you, you were to offer a pfennig check in return, which was the lowest denomination of coin at that time in Germany.

And so began the challenge. The act of giving a coin was the issuance of a challenge from one soldier seeking a pfenning check from another.

If the soldier didn’t have a pfenning check, they were stuck buying the drinks for the night and were considered the “defeated” soldier in the challenge.

The receipt of a challenge coin has throughout history been viewed as a symbol of good faith in strength, much like the military morale patches are viewed, but with greater historical significance.

When Did Presidential Challenge Coins Begin?

Presidential challenge coins have historically been presented through a secret handshake with reportedly only a few official ones from each president having been made. The presidential challenge coins exhibit documents who has had what coins in history.

As such, given the nature of the secrecy behind them, it’s not inconceivable to imagine that presidential challenge coins have been in play since history.

Nor is it inconceivable to imagine that the United States has only just begun to talk about these coins.

To date, what the coins that we know of conclusively began with President Clinton and have been used by every president since.

President Bush has had two variations of presidential challenge coins, and President Obama has had his own as well.

Donald Trump has one, and so does Vice President Pence. Before Vice President Pence, Vice President Joe Biden and Vice President Cheney had their own coins made.

Joe Biden had three different versions of his coin made, and Vice President Cheney was the first Vice President known to have challenge coins.

Secret Handshakes Happen Everywhere

In America, when the secret handshake occurs with a presidential challenge coin being palmed between nations or dignitaries, the message is one of diplomacy and peace.

When a president gives one today, he is thanking someone for their service and support of the United States.

Presidents and incoming presidents can be given challenge coins as well, because many organizations now use them. Approximately one month after the 2016 election, Donald Trump was given a challenge coin in a public manner at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.

In a meeting of 12 generals and admirals, top Naval acquisition officer Vice Admiral Dave Johnson gave Donald Trump a challenge coin as a gesture of good faith.

Service appreciation is a common use for the coin, but there are other reasons it is given.

Coins in Memoriam

There is no one set reason that a presidential challenge coin is issued by the president of the United States, but a common reason is for soldiers killed in action.

It is common for a president to give one as a token of good faith between countries, but the most common purpose of a known presidential challenge coin being issued is when a soldier is killed in action.

This was a common reason that both President Obama and President George W. Bush gave them.

One recipient of the President George W. Bush challenge coin described the ritual of the receipt of the coin to reflect that they do not always arrive in the form of a handshake.

He reported that he was given the coin by President Bush in the Oval Office on Memorial Day 2006 when the HR 5037 Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act was just about to become law.

He described a scenario in which President Bush went behind the Resolute desk and found a red velvet lined wood case in a cabinet that “must have contained about a hundred examples” of the challenge coin of President Bush.

Every service member that was in attendance of that signing also received a coin.

So it goes to show that in some cases the president wants you to know what he is doing, and sometimes he doesn’t. We may never know more intricate details of the presidential challenge coin.

Invest in History

The number of presidential challenge coins that exist in the nation is not on record or available to the public. But each president since and including President Clinton had multiple coins prepared, and Donald Trump is still using his today.

The history of challenge coins given to service members is a military secret that goes back hundreds of years. It’s a mystery you will only learn more about when you become a part of the military or public administration.

Being passionate about any component of American history can begin as an interest for you but lead you into a very rewarding career of documenting American history. When you preserve American history you become a part of it, and that is the true reason that presidential challenge coins became such an integral part of military and war history for decades.

Learn more today about following your passion and the different kinds of careers for history lovers.