To the average person, a challenge coin looks like a neat collectible. It’s something that you can keep in a case to admire for years to come.
What they don’t realize is that military challenge coins have a deep tradition surrounding them. How do challenge coins work? They are small awards that you can put in a display case, or much more common, keep on your person.
You never know when someone’s going to call for a coin check! Want to learn more about this age-old tradition? Check out this guide to learn the ins and outs of challenge coin history and etiquette.
What Is a Challenge Coin?
Challenge coins are tiny metal coins that are given out during special occasions. Most of the time, they take the form of a round coin but they can come in many other interesting shapes.
Receiving a coin is a huge honor usually reserved for the military and first responders. Coins given out via a handshake from the President of the United States are the most valuable.
Challenge Coin History
As you can imagine, challenge coins are rooted in a deep history. Historians aren’t even sure when they first came about. All they know is that it was a tradition in the military.
The earliest we can trace them back is Ancient Rome. Special coins were given to the soldiers in celebration of their bravery and valor.
The other origin story involves War World I. An officer handed his soldiers bronze coins with their flight squadron insignia stamped on them. When one of these soldiers was shot down and managed to make it to France, they were able to prove that they were part of the Allied Powers by showing off their coin.
No matter if that story is true or not, the practice didn’t pick up here until the Vietnam War. Today, you can get a challenge coin in a variety of different ways.
How Does One Get a Challenge Coin?
Nowadays, you don’t have to be in the military to receive challenge coins. They’re given to anyone to celebrate years of service. Many first responders get them by performing heroic duties.
High-ranking government officials such as the President of the United States can receive one. Many businesses give them out to their employees who have been with them for a while.
Sometimes you can get them from exclusive corporate events. Most companies aren’t foolish enough to think that people hold on to their business cards. Nine times out of ten, they end up in the bottom of a garbage can somewhere.
That’s why some of them give out challenge coins with their information on them instead. Granted, they usually save these fancy “business cards” for their more important clients.
You can also buy challenge coins online, but that sort of takes the significance out of having one. The point is to earn it through some means.
The Passing of the Challenge Coin
There is a certain way that you give and receive a challenge coin. You don’t just hand it over like you would any other award. The giver places the coin in their palm.
They then pass it to the receiver by transferring it to their palm through a handshake. The entire process is discrete. You don’t announce it.
The Coin Check
Now we get into the most enjoyable part of the tradition. The coin check! It’s a game that was made popular back during the Vietnam War.
The challenger holds their coin in the air and verbally calls out that they are issuing a coin check. If they want to draw a little less attention, they can slap their coin down on a table, but it has to be loud enough for other people to be able to hear it.
Anyone that they challenged now has a few seconds to produce their own coin. If there’s someone who doesn’t have their coin on them, they have to buy a round of drinks for the table.
They do have to be a little careful about who they challenge. If everyone at the table is able to produce a coin, it will be on them to buy the drinks.
Where Do You Keep Your Coin?
So, now you may be wondering, “where do you keep your coin?” Those in the military most likely have a lot of them. They keep most of them in a display case and maybe carry one around with them.
You’re not allowed to punch a hole in the coin. That’s sort of seen as an insult. If you want to wear it around your neck as a piece of jewelry, you’ll have to place it in one of those clear pouches.
Other than that, if you have a challenge coin, make sure that you keep it within arm’s reach. You’ve got to be able to get to it fast when someone issues a check.
Challenge Coin Rules
Not drilling holes in your custom challenge coins is only one etiquette rule to follow. There are others, for example, you’ve got to tell everyone when you’re about to do a coin check.
If someone isn’t familiar with the rules of the game, you have to give them instructions. If you don’t, that’s not playing fair. When you issue the challenge, you have to state if the loser is to pay for a round of drinks or only one.
Those who lose a coin are responsible for replacing it right away. Those who lose a coin aren’t exempt from following the rules of the game.
How Do Challenge Coins Work? Your Basic Guide
How do challenge coins work? As you can see, it’s a rich tradition that stemmed from a long history. Receiving a coin is a huge honor.
If you manage to get one, it means something. You’ll need to follow along with the rules and traditions that we’ve highlighted here. If you don’t, it could cost you a round of drinks.
To learn more about challenge coins and what they represent, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.