Did you know that the rare coin industry in the United States broke a record last year by exceeding a value of $6 billion?
Even with so many amazing coins on the market, few are as special as challenge coins. Are you unsure what this type of coin is? If so, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with what they are and their rich history.
The meaning of these coins goes way beyond the purpose of collecting them. Keep reading to learn all about the challenge coin with this quick yet in-depth history.
Table of Contents
What Are Challenge Coins?
In general, a challenge coin is something that bears the insignia or another symbol that signifies a specific organization. These types of organizations are often related to the military, law enforcement, and other services like these. The main purpose of these coins is to prove membership or even boost morale.
The challenge involved with these coins comes from the need to identify a membership. While the exact challenge coin rules can vary from organization to organization, the general concept usually remains the same.
For starters, any member of a coin-bearing organization can call for a challenge as soon as they draw their coin and hold it up. You can also slam the coin on a surface, such as a table. Either way, you’ll need to announce the challenge so that all are aware.
Once this happens, everyone has to do the same with their coins as soon as possible. Many organizations put the time limit at around 15 seconds. If anyone is too slow or doesn’t have their coin on them, they lose.
Are you wondering what the punishment is for losing the challenge? If one or more people don’t produce their coins as they should, then they must buy a drink or a meal for the challenger. The exact item is up to the person who initiated the challenge.
Anyone who can’t buy a requested item or refuses to do so may have to return the coin for good. That’s why challenge coins are a symbol of loyalty and unity.
Challenge Coin History
While the history is open to interpretation, one of the most famous origin stories involves World War I.
There was a flying squadron commanded by a wealthy officer. He went out of his way to create bronze medallions for each of his men. These were the first-ever military challenge coins.
The story doesn’t end there, however, because one of the squadron members ended up being shot down. He survived the crash but was soon captured by the enemy.
Before sending him to prison, the Germans took all the pilot’s belongings. The one thing they didn’t take was a pouch that contained the challenge coin. Later, he escaped captivity and fled to France.
To make matters worse, the French confused the young pilot for an enemy spy. He would have faced the death penalty if he hadn’t produced his bronze medallion. The great thing about this was that a French soldier knew what the insignia stood for.
Not only did this prove the soldier’s identity, but it also put a stop to his death penalty. After this happened, challenge coins took on a life of their own and became popular with all kinds of military groups.
It also became common for people to drill holes into the coins so that they could be worn around the neck. This was much more convenient than keeping them in a pouch.
Another Possible Origin Story
Some people believe challenge coins didn’t come around until after World War II. According to this story, the coin challenge stemmed from American soldiers using German pfennigs. Any soldier could announce a challenge and the losers had to buy the challenger a beer.
These challenges could occur at any time and at any location. Over time, a challenge that used low-denomination German currency evolved into the high-quality coins we know and love today.
Buy Challenge Coins
Whether you want coins for your organization or for a special item in your collection, there are many ways you can get your hands on them. It’s important to do your research ahead of time so that you don’t end up with a low-quality coin. If you respect someone or want to prove the integrity of your organization, then high-quality coins are a must.
No matter what your organization’s insignia is, the best vendor can put it on a coin and make it look amazing. One way you can decide on the quality of a coin vendor is by reading reviews online. Some people even upload photos of their coins so that you can see the quality detail for yourself.
Although the first challenge coin makers used bronze, keep in mind that you can make your coins out of all types of materials. The only limit is the extent of your budget.
If you know someone who has their own challenge coins, you should ask that person where they got them from. Are you still unsure where you can get the best coins? For quality and customizability, you shouldn’t hesitate to click here.
Are You Ready to Cherish a Challenge Coin?
Now that you’ve learned all about the challenge coin with this quick history, you can better appreciate this precious item. Friends and family members would certainly feel honored if you gifted them challenge coins for special occasions.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you’ll be glad to know that we have other informative content on our website. You’ll find business, education, entertainment, lifestyle, and many other essential subjects to sink your teeth into.
Before you head off, don’t forget to save our site in your browser so that it’s quick and easy to visit back soon.
