The awkwardly named Pentagram, the community paper for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, has started a series on the tradition of collecting “coins” in the US military:

For active duty and retired servicemembers, it is the currency of past days of deployment or of military milestones. This custom-made currency is awarded through a discreet handshake following a job well done or in a moment of appreciation.

They are called commander’s coins by some and challenge coins by others, and collecting the pieces allow some Soldiers the luxury of formulating a pair of collections – the career-long gathering of the actual coins and the assembling of life-long memories.

Actually, commander’s coins and challenge coins are two distinct things, though to an outsider they may seem the same.  Many commanders — and many others — have coins for their position; the highest enlisted member of a service may have his “chief” coin, for example.  That person may choose to distribute coins for a “job well done” or some recognition.

Challenge coins, by contrast, are “earned” by entry into a specific group.  Once one has the privilege of entering that group, they are expected to be carry that coin and present it upon challenge by another.  While most “commander’s coins” end up on the shelf in an office display, many Airmen — fighter pilots in particular — will continue to carry a challenge coin with them wherever they go.  The tradition of the challenge coin presumably began many years ago, though the article doesn’t delve into history.

Regardless, the article highlights an interesting aspect of the tradition by noting the substantial collection of an Army Sgt Major, and it promises more articles to come on the subject.

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