Have you ever wondered, wow this is one cool looking Challenge Coin, but what’s the point of it? Traditionally Challenge Coins have been used by Military, Law Enforcement, and Fire Departments in order to represent their chosen branch or department that they serve. It is a source of pride, and a token that they can have with them for life to remember a group of individuals that they have served with. Challenge coins also offer significance in many other areas, such as honoring an individual for a special achievement or to recognize a special event, they are also used to help boost a group’s morale.
Challenge Coin Check!
Within the Military Challenge coins are often used as a game commonly known as the “Challenge Coin Check”. When someone in a Military branch walks into their local watering hole, a service member may take out his or her coin to challenge one or a group of their Military buddies. Whoever cannot produce their Challenge Coin then gets the pleasure of buying a round of drinks for the entire group.
A Brief History of Custom Coins…
Challenge coins have a long and storied history that can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. Soldiers during Roman times had custom coins specially made for them and rewarded them for their acts of valor on the battlefield. Rumor has it that the coins were custom made to the soldier’s legion, which encouraged the soldier to keep those coins as opposed to spending them.
The first modern day use of custom challenge coins can be traced back to WWI, where the well off (rich) officers would make bronze medals made with their flying’s squadrons insignia on it. They did this as a source of pride and recognition for their units. Today many commanders in all branches of our Armed Forces use custom made challenge coins as a source of recognition. In 2011, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates shook hands with troops serving in Afghanistan, and with each hand shake he passed each soldier a coin he had specially made by the Secretary of Defense himself.
Who is using Challenge Coins today?
Today, coins are used by much more than just our Armed forces. They are used by Law Enforcement agencies, DEA, FBI, Fire Departments, Fortune 500 Companies, politicians and even US Presidents. Since the Bill Clinton Administration each sitting President has had their own coin made, one for the public and a unique one for the President to hand out. Most Presidents use the coins for Military Personnel, Foreign Dignitaries and for special occasions. President George W. Bush saved his for injured soldiers returning home from the Middle East War.
Corporate Challenge Coins
We have a lot of customers from the Corporate world who contact us to make a custom challenge coin for their business! We have had high end restaurants, chain outlets, and even small mom and pop shops request us to make coins for them. Our corporate coins typically have the company’s logo on one side, with a slogan or message on the other. They have also been used to recognize their years of service to thank their staff for their years of loyalty.
First Responder Coins
We have a lot of customers from the Corporate world who contact us to make a custom challenge coin for their business! We have had high end restaurants, chain outlets, and even small mom and pop shops request us to make coins for them. Our corporate coins typically have the company’s logo on one side, with a slogan or message on the other. They have also been used to recognize their years of service to thank their staff for their years of loyalty.
Making your own Custom Challenge Coins
Getting a custom challenge coin made is a way to tell your story and a way to pass that story on for generations to come. It tells people about who made the coin and why they made the coin. It’s a tradition of excellence and coins are now highly sought after by collectors on eBay and Facebook. All of our coins are designed with our customers’ needs in mind, they are ideal gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. If you would like Lone Star Challenge coins to help you with your next or first coin design, give us a call or visit the free quote section on our website today!
