The Challenge Coin Tradition: Do You Know How It Started?

Challenge Coins

Do you know what a challenge coin is?

If you’ve ever served in the military or with a United States president, you’ve probably received a challenge coin at one time or another.

These coins, however, are now becoming popular as gifts, for clubs and given to mark graduations, weddings, and other life events.

But how did they come about? While no one knows for sure, we’ll touch on some of the origin stories of the challenge coin tradition.

Read on to learn more about these precious coins.

What is a Challenge Coin?

A challenge coin is typically exchanged in the military. The coins are given to members of the military by their superiors and leaders, typically during a ceremony. Most often, the leader will hand the challenge coin over in a handshake in which the coin passes from one hand to the next.

Most often, they display the rank and insignia that the person served. Veterans proudly display them either in their offices or home.

But, as stated above, they have begun to go to people as gifts signifying particular life events. The challenge coins meaning can take on many different layers, depending on who is giving it to whom.

However, it is most closely associated with the military, and thus, that’s who carries and cherishes the coins.

World War I Origin Story

One of the most popular stories originates in World War I, when men were volunteering to fight. Thinking of it as something more of an adventure than the horror that war is, one wealthy lieutenant had coins minted for his platoon. He chose to wear his around his neck in a leather pouch.

That same man was then shot down over Germany and stripped of all his clothing and belongings to prevent escape. He escaped anyway, and sure enough, the French who discovered him thought he was an enemy as they didn’t not recognize his accent.

The French then decided to execute him. Thankfully, one French officer then recognized his challenge coin and decided to spare him, realizing he was an American. He was then treated to a bottle of wine.

Vietnam War Origins

Some believe that the challenge coin actually began in Vietnam. During the war, an American bar tried to keep people who weren’t members of the infantry out by forcing them to prove they’d been in combat. If they couldn’t prove they’d been in combat, by producing a grenade or bullet shell, they’d have to buy a drink for the entire bar.

Over time, this grew to include a challenge coin as the acceptable proof that you had seen battle, hence the name, “challenge coin.”

Vietnam Bullet Clubs

Another story, which states that challenge coins originated in Vietnam, also talk of men slamming down challenge coins in bars. But this was for a different reason.

In this version of the origin story, men who survived battles would be given a single bullet. This bullet would be used as a “last resort” to use on themselves rather than surrender.

But more than a way out, the bullets were a point of pride. As such, men often slammed them on the table at bars to prove what they’d lived through during their battles.

Challenge coins became more popular, as slamming live ammunition on the table of bars presented a safety hazard. Some worried that it could cause an explosion, and thus, the challenge coin was a safer way to show off that you had lived to tell the tale of a difficult battle.

Post-War Germany

There is also a story similar to the Vietnam War tale, but this one takes place just after World War II in Germany.

The story goes that the Americans stationed in Germany after the war liked to perform something called “pfenning checks.” During this time, a pfenning was the equivalent to an American penny, or the smallest form of German currency.

If someone asked for a pfenning check, the person who didn’t have one on him would have to buy the entire round. This evolved to them asking people to produce their challenge coin. If they didn’t have a challenge coin, then they, of course, were also stuck with the bill.

Who Else Has Challenge Coins?

With the advent of challenge coin companies making them customizable, pretty much anyone can have a challenge coin created. But, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily tradition.

If you work in the Secret Service or White House, the president will present you with a sort of challenge coin to show off and commemorate your service.

Notably, those who ride Harley Davidson motorcycles also create and carry their own challenge coins. These coins let them show off their allegiance to their group.

The president can, and does, hand out challenge coins whenever he sees fit. He can give these to any personnel, staff or citizen as he deems appropriate. And as you can imagine, they’re fairly priceless.

So, What’s the True Origin of the Challenge Coin Tradition?

With so many origin stories, it can be difficult to suss out the actual challenge coin tradition origin story. Because there are so many different interpretations, it appears we’ll have to be content with a few different origin stories, and instead, take the one we resonate with the most.

If you’re interested in reading more about challenge coins, click here to read our article on a brief history of military challenge coins.

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