Navy Challenge Coins

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

NAVY CHALLENGE COINS:  As we find info on the coins we can post it here so it's easy for everyone to find. 

So we know that NotDaMama found this coin at Power School Graduation.  Hopefully at the next graduation in October someone will find them again and can pick up some extras for others to purchase.  My son has PS graduation in December and if I don't find one before that time then I will definitely be on the lookout and purchase extras.

Also, Craig on the DEP site sells coins on Ebay - go to pirgifts.com and you can also purchase them at NavyOutfitters.com.  You can also go to Northwest Territorial Mint at NWTmint.com.

 

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[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

The History of the Military Challenge Coin

 

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s Insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are also exchanged in recognition of visits to an organization.

There are several stories detailing the origins of the challenge coin. According to the most common story, challenge coins originated 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 mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck.

 

Shortly after acquiring the medallion, the pilots' 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 escaped. However, he was without personal identification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. 

Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. 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. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine. 

Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive. 

According to another story, challenge coins date back to the second world war and were first used by Office of Strategic Service personnel who were deployed in Nazi held France. The coins were simply a local coin used as a "Bona Fides" during a personal meeting to help verify a person's identity. There would be specific aspects such as type of coin, date of the coin, etc. that were examined by each party. This helped prevent infiltration into the meeting by a spy who would have to have advance knowledge of the meeting time and place as well as what coin was to be presented, amongst other signals, as bona fides. 

While a number of legends place the advent of challenge coins in the post-Korean Conflict era (some as late as the Viet Nam War), or even later, Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Quinn had coins made for those who served in his 17th Infantry Regiment during 1950 and 1951. These coins recognized those who had fought in the most difficult phase of the war. 

There is another story about an American soldier scheduled to rendezvous with Philippine guerrillas during WWII. As the story goes, he carried a Philippine solid silver coin that was stamped on one side with the unit insignia. The coin was used to verify, to the guerrillas, that the soldier was their valid contact for the mission against the Japanese. 

The challenge coin tradition has spread to other military units, in all branches of service, and even to non-military organizations as well as the United States Congress, which produces challenge coins for members of Congress to give to constituents. Today, challenge coins are given to members upon joining an organization, as an award to improve morale, and sold to commemorate special occasions or as fundraisers. In the Air Force, military training instructors award an Airman's Coin to new enlisted personnel upon completion of their United States Air Force Basic Military Training and to new officers upon completion of their Air Force Officer Training School.

 

Source: Wikipedia

[NF Mom]

Navy Regulation legal use of Navy Funds

Army Regulation legal use of Army Funds

The two above regulations are nearly identical and below is a legal opinion on which types of coins could be official in the sense they can be legally paid for with funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress.

Legal opinion on Commanders Coins purchased with U.S. Taxpayer Funds

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

Check first with Craig on the PIR groups He is kind of in charge of the coins. He also has a post on Ebay, looks like a lot pack of challenge coins but you say you want to buy one and he gets in touch  with you as to which one you want. I have seen nuke ones on there. 

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

I will check with Craig Co-Twin - we bought our son's "ship" from boot camp from him and also my "Proud Navy Mom" coin from him too.  I really want to start getting some nuke coins!  I'll let everyone know what I find out!

[suebal MM3 USS California SSN781]

Thank you for setting this up B'snukemom :)

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

I got one fro my son for Pensacola Corry station and for IT and one with the sailors prayer

[Not Da Mama]

Wow, I feel like I started something.  First, thanks to B' for starting this thread. Now here's my 2 cents.

I wanted to address the comment that buying the coin somehow cheapens someone's achievement who earned the coin as a reward for their effort. I mean no disrespect, and I understand the logic, but I am not in business, I collect these coins solely to remember the event I was lucky enough to attend and to celebrate my child's achievement. 

These coins were for sale along with hats, shirts, and coffee cups all bearing the NNPTC logo, I will interpret as souvenirs.

If one of these coins were awarded for some special achievement, it would be accompanied by a certificate, mounted or not, stating the occasion and be in some sort of presentation case or holder.  Mine came in a little plastic bag.  For more formal awards it would be serialized. 

Every coin commemorates an event in my Son's Navy career.  Mrs. NDM and I occasionally open the coin box and remember, each coin represents one hundred stories about the event.  I found my favorite coin at PIR ceremony in GL.  

I don't know what I will do about Prototype School yet.  Has anyone ever seen a BS MARF or S8G coin ? ( funny concept )

These coins give my family happiness and connection.  I mean no disrespect when I wear my shirts or drink from my cup or show off my coins. 

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

I like the way you stated this NotDaMama. Hubby and I will continue to collect coins and other souvenirs 'cuz they do help us feel closer to our sailor! Thanks!

[susank]

I agree with you NotDaMama! I feel the same way!

[NJ Navy Mom Ship 03 Div 115]

OK so I'll put my request on here too.  If anyone is going to Power School Grad and can buy me one of the Power School Challenge Coins I would be eternally grateful!! 

[NF Mom]

I have always wondered if challenge coins were in anyway official.

Everything in the military that is official, is authorized by some military regulation.    Anyone know where such a regulation authorizing the military awarding official challenge coins can be found?

[NF Mom]

My husband was in the Air Force decades ago, and he never heard of official unit coins, but there were gold coins carried by the pilots of certain units that were expected to fly deep into enemy territory and rarely make it out.

These were carried as currency to help them buy food, clothes and assistance on the back market.  Everyone, especially the pilots, viewed the proposition of buying their way home as iffy, but clinging to a small chance is better than no chance.

I do not believe my husband ever saw one, but if they were going to be used to buy things from criminals in enemy countries, it would not have been useful to have anything on them that would have identified the criminal who accepted them, and attempted to use them to buy things,  as a traitors to his own country.