Coins of Courage: The Tradition of Custom Military Challenge Coins

You’ve seen the service medals and unit patches that adorn military uniforms, but have you seen a soldier’s challenge coin? Since as early as WWI, custom military coins have been carried by soldiers as a sign of camaraderie and loyalty. But they’re usually not on display. While formal service medals and awards are cherished and respected throughout the military community, challenge coins have found their niche as a more personal symbol of honor, courage, and excellence that a soldier can carry around in their pocket.

Every challenge coin tells a unique, personal story, and that is what makes them so special. If you’ve never seen a challenge coin, or if you’re just here to learn a little more about the history and traditions surrounding challenge coins, you’ve come to the right place.

Why Are They Called  “Challenge Coins?”

Challenge coins get their name from the tradition of “coin checks.”

A coin check is an open challenge to all the soldiers nearby to produce their unit coin or any challenge coin they might be carrying. It’s a simple game that soldiers play with each other that encourages everyone to keep their challenge coins handy. But the stakes are high.

When a soldier initiates a coin check - by slapping a coin on the table or simply holding up their coin for all to see - everyone in the group must produce their coin too. The person who doesn’t have a challenge coin in their pocket may be required to buy a round of drinks for the group.

On the flip side, if everyone has their challenge coins, the challenger who initiated the coin check has to buy the round. Specific rules for coin checks will differ from group to group, but across the board, there’s one thing soldiers keep in mind; always carry a challenge coin. The day you don’t have your coin is the day you’ll get challenged and lose a coin check.

Recognizing Service Excellence With Challenge Coins

In many ways, military challenge coins are a physical representation of the bond soldiers share when serving together. By including emblems, mottos, and symbols that are unique to a team, the coins can even serve as a form of identity or belonging to a specific group. In fact, the most widely spread story on the origins of challenge coins describes a lieutenant captured during WWI who was able to escape and use his challenge coin as proof of his identity when returning to allied troops.

These days, division leaders and high ranking officers customize their own challenge coins to share with soldiers under their command. Receiving a coin from a commanding officer is a sign of respect for an individual’s contribution to the team and a lasting symbol of their accomplishment. Some coins are designed for general purposes, others for milestone achievements like promotions or retirements. Still others are ordered to honor the completion of a specific mission or combat assignment. No matter the case, every challenge coin is a symbol of unity, brotherhood, and commitment to excellent service.

Custom Designs for Military Challenge Coins

Challenge coins have humble beginnings as small, round pieces of brass stamped with a unit’s insignia. But these days, military coins come in just about any size and shape you can imagine. Soldiers have come up with a huge variety of design ideas ranging from 3D sculpted reliefs of jets, tanks, and other military equipment, to bottle openers, dog tags, and more!

Some of the most common design elements are things like badges and mottos. A lot of soldiers take inspiration from locations as well. Soldiers are deployed all over the world, so it’s not uncommon to see coins featuring Japanese-inspired emblems and artwork, or palm trees and beach scenes from Guam.

Part of the fun of challenge coins is the variety of shapes, colors, and designs to find. Soldiers from different units will sometimes trade coins, adding to their personal collection, and share their favorite designs.

When it comes time to design a coin of their own, it’s not uncommon to see soldiers trying to one-up each other with more ambitious ideas and inspirations.

Design Your Own Custom Military Challenge Coin Today!

Custom military coins are more than just tokens or collector’s items. They’re a symbol of unity and camaraderie, and each design captures the spirit and personality of a team. Even today, the coins play a significant role in fostering a sense of pride and honor among soldiers and represent an important piece of military history.

If you have an idea for your own coin, we’d love to hear it! Send us an email or click the link below to get started. The team here at All About Challenge Coins is excited to help you bring your ideas to life and create a lasting tribute to the men and women who serve!