What is a challenge coin? 

Do you need a challenge coin made? This is who makes mine: www.gs-jj.com/challenge-coins/Custom-Challenge-Coins

I got a Navy challenge coin from a Master Chief, just for doing my job and smiling. I work at a grocery store bagging groceries by the way. It was a great honor for me to get one

Was recently at the 82nd airborne division change of command, and I was coined by the commander of the special operations command. I was shocked when he handed it to me because when you get a coin from a 3 Star general officer that is a pretty big deal and I was stunned and yet very happy at the same time. It’s a smaller coin with the shape of the 112th special operations battalion but it said “special operations command” and it didn’t have the airborne tab, and then it also has the 3 Star flag on the back with the commanders signature.

75th ranger coin is cool looking. SERE challenge coin. 82nd Airborne all American coin. God help u if you forget to bring your 82nd Airborne coin to the bar. It will be costly for you.

Having been in law enforcement for 35 yrs I have a bunch of these and never really knew anything about them. Thanks for enlightening me. I'm going to pass the on to my grand kids.

I got a coin from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in Afghanistan. A few others from 25th ID, 10th MTN DIV, 3rd ID. 🇺🇸🦅

I got one from Command Sergeant Major of the Arkansas Army National Guard which was pretty awesome it was in the shape of Arkansas and a CSM rank on it

Christopher: Greetings from Canada! The US military is not the only armed forces to have challenge coins. The Canadian Armed Forces (Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force) all have challenge coins. So do the British Forces, and the Australian and New Zealand Forces. The Canadian, UK, Australian and New Zealand use of challenge coins follows very similar customs and traditions to those you have described for the US forces. I have a number of coins myself - most notably, the 2 Military Police Company coin (the unit which I later had the privilege of commanding), and the Royal Military Police Association coin, which I was given by the British, as they consider all Commonwealth MPs as brothers. I think there is more to the story of how challenge coins came into being than the interesting US Army World War I tale that you told. Stay safe. Regards, D.A. Stolovitch, CD Captain 2 Military Police Regiment / Canadian Forces Military Police (Retired)

The most interesting "challenge" coin and use of it I've experienced was back right after 9/11. I was part of a plainclothes security team at a high level political conference in Washington, DC that was thought to offer an attractive target for a terror attack, since many of the speakers were high ranking government officials of the U.S. and Israel. The team was comprised of over 100 of us, some Army Special Forces, a bunch of SEALs, my group of police officers from a number of jurisdictions, as well as DSS and Secret Service agents. Access to many areas was restricted to only us, and most of us did not know each other on sight. Each of us received a very nice challenge coin and two lapel pins, one silver pin and one gold. At each briefing we were told that today would be "gold right" or "silver left" etc, and to always have the coin with us. If you were approached in your sector of the hotels and other venues being used by someone you did not recognize, you could first look for the pin, color and orientation, and if still not sure, like if they had no jacket on, you literally "challenged" them to show their coin. At the end of the five day event we had to give the pins back, but were allowed to keep the coins. I still have mine. Not military, and not for morale purposes, but a pretty cool way to use the coins.

I love your videos! My great-grandpa was the Commander of Company B-506th PIR-101st Airborne division in WWII. I don’t think he had any coins, but I still respect him for what he did in WW2. His highest award was the Distinguished Service Cross. He took part in Operation Overlord, Operation market garden, and battle of the bulge. He was a good man. God bless America!

At some point i might create some Chaos challenge coins......... we will see.

Receiving a coin from senior ranking individuals was even better than getting an AAM or ARCOM in some respects. I still have my coins from my 20year career in the Army. The highest ranking coin I received was from 4 star general Laporte of the 8th Army United Forces Command Korea in 2003. I was in the right place and right time to get it. It was funny, I was a part of a "rent-a-crowd" that my PSG needed after some speech the general gave in Yongan. So I was "hey you'd" into formation as the general shook Soldier's hands giving them coins of appreciation. My most recent coin I received was for my retirement as an E-6, and the coin that is most important to me is one I earned from a Soldier (E-2) for being such a great mentor to him!

Thank you and all soldiers for their service!

I have various coins from Camp Casey South Korea and from serving with 4ID in Iraq from 07-09. I also have the same coin from Admiral Mike Mullen for doing the same thing as you; my platoon was mandated to sit through his speech and we all received it.

I have four coins, my best one is the Chairman of the Joint chiefs of staff coin. I received from General Richard B. Myers while I on duty for the Homeland security detail in NYC.

My highest ranking coin is from a Brigadier General and I carry it in my wallet even though I have been out for almost 9 years. I carry it with me everywhere I go because you never know when someone might throw up a challenge. 👍

Chris, if you want to have some coins made, let me know. I know some guys who have made both law enforcement and military coins. Keep up the great videos!

I have a few from my cousins service in Army SF. My favorite of his is his first in Asia 1st SFG challenge coin. Never leaves my side!

Pog currency

Wow, these challenge coins are cool. I have a little keepsake chest in my room where I have a bunch of small souvenirs, and if I end up earning a couple of these, that's where their going when I get out. I love coins so these would be perfect moral boosters for me. That and badges.

I actually earned my first one last night. I earned it for reaching the Billy Mitchell milestone in Civil Air Patrol. It's a Colonel coin.

Mines probably nothing too big, but my mother got this for me while she was deployed in Kuwait. It’s a Saint Micheal the Archangel challenge coin, on the front it reads “Be strong in the lord and in the strength of his might” and in the back is a prayer to Saint Michael the archangel

I got that Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff coin from Mullen for listening to him give a speech on our compound too. He seemed to give those things out like candy. Must have had a $1M coin budget. My favorite coin is probably the one I got for completing SERE C school at Ft. Rucker. That was definitely the one I suffered the most to get. :)

I worked as a civilian dispatcher for my countys Sheriff's Department. I received a challenge coin for taking the Crisis Intervention Team training. I guess the training helped a few of my coworkers told me I was talented with the mental health calls.

Thank you for your service and thank you for explaining these things to me. Im kind of in between on whether i want to keep trying to get in the army and just being a highly interested proud supporter.

Had a friend give our LT a PFC challenge coin for 'good work'

Thank you for your service and all the ones in your comments. I had never heard of a Challenge Coin being a coin collector I had to find out what it was. Thanks for the info.

Love the new Commander in Chief's coin. It's different, flashy and shiny. not neccesarily bad. Breaking the mold as usual

I think that the president’s and the vice president’s coin would be higher, but I think you would win in the bar 99.9% of the time! #free drinks! LOL! Thanks for your service!

Not a military man myself, but I love the tradition of these coins. I've actually received a few from flight schools for completing various ratings during my training. Most are in frames on my wall but I left a couple out to carry for luck. Appreciate your service!

While in 1/502nd Inf, we had a CSM that would check every surface during a barracks inspection for dust. While doing that, he would occasionally leave a silver dollar. I found one while preparing for the next inspection and left four quarters in its place (you wouldn’t want to steal from a CSM). After the inspection I found a 1/502 challenge coin in it’s place!

I have 3 coins in total, 2 from Australian units that I served with and 1 from the US Division that I was with on exchange duties. All of them I greatly value and Australians generally use them as recognition coins in or at military type events, reunions, RSL events, ANZAC day etc.

I once played in the World Series of Poker (not the main event; I'm not THAT rich. :) ) and the guy sitting next to me was using a coin that said USS Vincennes on it. Which was one of the biggest AEGIS cruisers in the Navy. I asked the guy if he had been on the Vincennes and he said, yes, he was CO of her for two years. He had to have been at least a Navy Captain at the time and probably was an Admiral when he retired. I felt a little outclassed playing with someone like that. :)

I'm an Army veteran (1993-2008) and I have over 50 challenge coins, mainly given to me when I was part of the 1st Cav Division Salute Team, I was one of the gunners for the cannon salutes during every Division Change of Command Ceremony or any other ceremony the "ceremony crazy" 1st Cav just loved to perform....I did that for over two years....I also got a coin from a General at the wash rack in Kuwait after our return from Iraq in 2005, another Sergeant and I were walking over to our vehicle and a General and his staff were walking around doing the shaking of hands "good job soldier!" rounds that they usually do and he just came up to us, we saluted and he jammed a coin into our hands with a firm handshake asked "what unit you from?"...we said 1/21 Field Artillery and he gave us a look of surprise and then said "you guys were in Iraq?".."yes sir" we said, and then he just shrugs and says "wow didn't know we had MLRS soldiers in Iraq"..then he walks off....well yes we were an MLRS battalion but we were used as mounted infantry in Baghdad, doing patrols every day among a myriad of other missions...a PFC from my battery was the first soldier from 1st Cav in Iraq to be awarded the Silver Star for bravery in combat...we left Iraq the most decorated battery in the battalion who also suffered the most casualties (four dead and seven wounded)...can't believe it's coming up on 15 years since we left for Iraq in March of 2004.

I got one from an old battle buddy from OSUT who made it to CSM. Really cool!!

Interesting video would be a collection of military myths: the dog tags in the mouth thing, the rice and razor blade under the flag thing...etc.

Not in military but my dad was and at his funeral I had received a coin from a Lt. Col. He was an engineer so it has the engineers logo and the Knights of The Golden Horseshoe logo on it. Was really surprised when I received it.

If you want to know why the heart from the 101st, here's the scoop: during WW2, the different regiments in the 101st Airborne Division identified themselves with stenciled playing card devices on the sides of their helmets. 501st wore a diamond, 502nd a heart, 506th a spade, and the 327th (glider-riders) a club.

My favorite coin I have is from a colonel in the Civil Air Patrol. He’s our state wing commander. Another cool one I received was from a Chief Warrant Officer in the Coast Guard. This spring I’ll be attending West Point and challenge coins have been a nice addition to my time in the Civil Air Patrol and I look forward to receive more in the Army! I love the history behind each and I personally think each tells it’s own story. Thanks for this video and sharing your favorites!

I’m not in the military but I’ve gotten a challenge coin from my local police department for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and serving on my town’s peer jury.

One of my favorites I got from a CW5. I have a bunch and a few are from generals. But the CW5 is by far my favorite.

Thank you. I have wondered about this for years. I finally decided to look it up and viola! You had the answer.

Awesome collection! I have some cool coins, but my favorites are from the Medal of Honor ceremony, Sergeant Major of the Army (I have a few of those), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the yellow ribbon coin my dad gave me before I deployed the first time. I also got one from the 2nd Marine Division CG. My grandfather (God Bless the dead) has that one now.

I'm not aware of the Navy using Challenge Coins while I was in ('75-'95). But I did acquire one for one of my old squadrons a few years ago. I was at an air show at MCAS Miramar and the squadron I mentioned (HSM-35) had a display there. I had been in HSL-35 which disbanded in '92 then had reformed as HSM-35 in '13. They had Challenge Coins for sale with the HSL-35 logo on one side and HSM-35 on the other, so of course I felt the right to own one even if I had to buy it.

That's such a cool tradition

I recieved a challenge coin from my high school JROTC instructor for 4 years of JROTC. Front are the army values, and back reads "Mission, to motivate young people to be better citizens"

When I was in NJROTC my last Instructor showed us his challenge coins from when he was in the Navy

Great video! I think each president should have their own coin to make theirs unique.

My son also has the JCOS Mike Mullen challenge coin from '07.He received it as he laid in a gurney as he was being loaded into a C130 at Andrew's. Adm. Mullen was waiting to fly out and walked out to my son as he was being loaded onto the plane for follow up treatment in Palo Alto

I’m in law enforcement and we also do challenge coins. Btw my uncle is based in Fr Riley KS! Great videos man.

I only served 2 yrs in the Army. Got 3 coins which l didn't care about back then... now l think of the last one though, our Brigade commander awarded me and 5 other soldiers. I think l got my first as a cherry in my unit for doing a good job at Fort Polk, 2nd one was because l and another brother were the only ones among 45plus soldiers to get an EIB... one month later l get another one for being a fast track soldier... from E1 to E4 in 13 months. 3rd Brigade 187th Infantry, fort Campbell KY 👌👍

I have three Challenge. One from a Brigadier General, the second is from a Regimental CSM, and the third from HQ for helping out with Hurricane Harvey.

So far I have designed 2 coins and will be designing one for my current BN in Korea. My highest coin I have received was from a 2-star general for becoming a US citizen in Afghanistan. That mug is heavy and proud of it for various reasons

Im an argentine marine, got presented with a challenge coin a few years ago by the USMC Ground Ordnance Chief, it has the slogan "Keepers of the Sword" on it

Coins or "Mission coins" as we call them are big in the launch ops world of rocketry, some launches will have up to 4 or more coins from various organizations that had a hand in the mission. Collecting them all can be just as difficult as building the vehicle, but very rewarding, I have two racks almost filled.

Never seen these when I was in but I like them and think it would be cool to collect. Maybe an infantry thing more so than other units. Same with unit patches I like the idea of collecting them as well. After the service I was a firefighter paramedic and have several patches from other departments we worked with on large fires and rescue operations. And as a department we sent out patches out to departments across the country I believe we had over 2000 patches from all over the country.

I got a 10th Mountain coin from Major General Mennes up here in Fort Drum from winning a PT Competition that he was participating alongside the soldiers with (Obviously, he wasn't competing). Currently 2-15 FA, 2nd BCT.

Hey chris great video. I don’t mind President Trumps coin that much. I also think his coin should “outrank” all coins. He may not be military but he technically is the commander-in-chief. Yeah there are a lot of versions of the challenge coin game. I see it played a lot among veterans in areas where there are a lot of veterans. Same rules mostly apply though, in that those without their highest coin or at least one of their coins had to buy drinks. Coins in my experience weren’t given out just cause you were in a certain unit. I had to earn my coins through things like performing color guard or performing really well at my job. It got me several coins from our battalion, regiment, and even post commander. Keep up the good work man! 👍

You should make a video on ALL the challenge coins you got! Great Videos! Keep up the good work!

I'm not in the military, but back in 2004 I worked as part of a security team at a political conference where a former President as well as the leadership of the House and Senate were speakers. Colin Powell was SecState at the time and he was there as well. The security team had over 100 members, including cops, SEALs, and U.S. Army Special Forces, as well as U.S. Secret Service. Many of us did not know each other before the event. We had lapel pins with a specific pin to be worn on certain days, on a certain side of the clothing. This changed every shift. The Secret Service had some cool challenge coins and they gave each one of us a coin. If we were to enter an area where a designated protectee was located, we had to show the coin in addition to wearing the appropriate pin on the proper side. I still have my Secret Service coin. I was with Powell and NSA Condoleeza Rice for several hours at a reception providing security. They were two of the nicest people I ever met.

Nice vid. I have two navy marksmanship challenge coins, they gave them to me for shooting in the leg matches. SECDEF would be the highest in the military. Get one of those

I'm not military, but the most interesting coin I have is a 1943 Canadian penny maple leaf. It's pretty cool.

Never heard of challenge coins before. I got my 1st and only one in September at the 37th armored regiment reunion in Washington DC. “Courage Conquers “.

Was in the Army 72-80 never heard of a challenge coin !

As a civil. never serve in the military. I would say that you are correct that the Joint Chief is the Highest Military Personal, but as President is the Commander in Chief. thus should be the highest challenge coin, but what do I know I a civilian.

I love you your awesome I'm joining the millitary my brother served but he got out in 2012 he passed away from a car he was my hero I love our millitary more then anything

Army 68 thru 71: I have never heard of these things! Would love to have one from my last unit, 307th Engr/82nd Airborne at Bragg.

wow, idk that what challange coin for these seem great way to boost my squad morale but first, we need to survive XD

Use too have about 80 of them at one time mostly senior NCO to generals got mine all stollen in storage when PC's. Cool coin buffalo soldiers had statue on ft bliss . Joint chiefs staff coin cool.

I was in the Navy from 97-03 and we didn't have coins. I've only just recently learned about them. So they either don't exist in the Navy or it's something new since I've left.

Im in jrotc and got a coin, so I was wondering. Its from Major General Garrett Yee so im not so sure where it stands, but whatever. I think that if president wants to change it that's up to him. Its his coin so, just as anyone else would make their own, its up to their digression. I think that the vice president and president should rank highest cause of the "Commander and Chief" idea

i enjoy the videos man thank you for taking the time to make them

My favorite is the coin of the chiefs mess of the destroyer Normandy, which I got during a cross pol in exchange for one of my rare patches

Like your vídeos Bro.! My highest coin is a 4th ID Force XXI from the Division Commander MG.Paul Kern For Division Flag Detail back in 2000.

I got one from the PX lol had my unit plans officer give it to me for being only Human Resources Administrator of my Rank on the Training Ex at JBLM does that count?

I have a challenge coin for 15 years of fire service from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal's office. I also have one with the Scout Oath and Scout Law for the Boy Scouts.

I ship out to Boot camp October 25th (was supposed to be September 8th but I got set back) and I received a challenge coin from a 4 star General somehow before shipping out.

Arguably the president is a member of the military so I would think their challenge coin would be the highest. BUT a coin from a joint chief of staff is pretty sweet.

I got a few in 8years of service but never keep them, usually gave them away or got lost while moving. the only thing that I keep was the CottonBaler Buckle I received while serving in Kuwait on some Security Mission/Training local Army.

My grandfather earned a coin from admiral Thad W. Allen, he has earned well over a dozen in his life. I’ve only earned one challenge coin from the VP-8 “flying tigers”

I Remember when I was in JROTC and we went to JCLC at Fort hood and I got a Coin from a Sergeant Major of the 38th Infantry Division, I’m not quite sure why I got it but I got it😂

Never had a clue about any of this.

Sitting here in Topeka KS and wondering what the background music is I’m diggin it 🙌

Most Jrotc cadets collect these too, there is also one for completing JCLC summer leadership camp

They're Basically Achievements From Cod And Battlefield

I've got a question, i got a coin from a Lt. Col. from an embassy. It says "U.S. defence attache office" - does that count as a challenge coin? :P

President Trump coin is great i think after 20 plus and all He continues to do is more than a great reason id get one if i wasn't outside of the US, congratulations on all your achievements and i enjoy your broadcasts,. the Space Force coin was cool,

Bro, big fan from India!!

Very cool! Never heard.of these.so thank you!!!

Been in the army reserves for about 2 1/2 years and have never even seen a challenge coin lol

grew up in medal of honor recipient James McCloughans hometown, gave me a coin, started a collection.

Pretty impressive. I think they hand those out way more today than in the past. I had a Team Spirit exercise coin given buy Korea but I thought it was cheesy looking. I wish I still had it though. If I had a challenge coin for every ship and station, country I was in, its have a ton. Desert Storm, I never got a challenge coin but I got a cool certificate. I was a contractor out there for DOD and handing things to contractors was scarce. No coins or medals in the military for me. Just honorable discharge. I work for airlines and I just received a 50 year anniversary coin for airline service at this airport. Trumps coin looks cool. I have a cold war certificate from Chuck Hagel Secretary of Defense. That's pretty high ranking. Just below Presidents office and higher than your joints of staff coin. But its not a coin. Desert Storm certificate in country from commander of Blount Island Command. Get some!

I have an ICE training coin

I got one from a battalion commander and a sergeant major today, it has both their insignias on it

Can you please do a video explaining the JCS, I am trying to learn for some things?

Challenger : pulls out challenge coin.. Contender : pull out MEDAL OF HONOR ..

Love the videos, good info as always.

COIN Check. If you did not have a Coin you buy the round. Also in the 70's there was very little use of coins. I did carry my Father's Coin from WWII durning my time of service (73 to 79) 955th FA

I have the cyber commander one

deployed with Bco 4th tanks marine reserves in 2009. when we returned we received a coin from our command staff. as a reservist you dont really get opportunities to get coins so its my one and only coin. sits in my shadow box that my family made for me.