Aviano Air Base, Italy, becomes the most recent base to publish a story on the military tradition of “challenge coins.”

The true history of the challenge coin dates back to World War I, when an American pilot was shot down and captured in Germany.

While escaping from the grasp of the Germans, the pilot made his way to France, where they believed he was a spy and sentenced him to be executed. To prove his identity and save his life, he revealed a bronze medallion with his flying squadron’s emblem, confirming that he was an American pilot. The French spared his life and celebrated by giving him a bottle of wine instead.

The story is similar to those previously told in other places, though the article has some other interesting details on a post-Great War “pfennig” check, as well as the first-salute silver dollar tradition:

Known as a “first salute” coin or a “silver dollar” salute, a coin was presented to the first enlisted member who saluted the newly-commissioned officer. The 19th century phrase that encompassed this action was, “You have to buy your first salute and then earn every salute thereafter, through your performance and by gaining respect of your subordinates.”

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