Due to the secrecy of such operations, U.S. special operations forces were working with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in conducting clandestine operations against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong. Interestingly, there were many notable challenge coins to come out of the Vietnam war, including the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) coin. Other military historians believe the tradition began in a bar in Vietnam, where patrons were required to present enemy bullets or their challenge coin upon entering. Reciprocally, if all the other members had their medallions, the challenger had to then buy everyone drinks. If any member present didn’t have his medallion, he had to buy a drink for the challenger and for anyone else that had their coin. This tradition evolved from a pfennig to a unit’s unique medallion, and members would “challenge” each other by slamming a medallion down on the bar. Americans stationed there adopted a local tradition of conducting “pfennig checks.” The pfennig was the lowest monetary coin in Germany, and if you didn’t have one when a “Coin Check” was called, you were stuck buying drinks for everyone. Where Does The “Challenge” Part Come From?Īnother story insists that the “challenge” aspect of the coins began in Germany after World War II. This not only saved the pilot’s life, but also earned him a bottle of French wine for his troubles.
According to the tale, one of the French soldiers who was holding him captive recognized the insignia stamped on the coin. In response to these accusations, the American presented the challenge coin around his neck. Unaware of who the American was and with no way to verify his identity, the French assumed him to be a German spy. After an American pilot was captured by Germans, the pilot managed to escape to a French outpost. The story goes that a wealthy American lieutenant in World War I distributed matching bronze coins to his unit members before they were deployed. military circles suggests that the first “official” challenge coin wasn’t created until WWI. Certainly, the coins that were received by Roman Legionnaires were the earliest form of challenge coins that we know of. Some accounts say that these coins were specially stamped with a mark of the legion from which it came, prompting some men to hold on to their coins as a memento of their service.
If a soldier performed well in battle, he would receive his typical day’s pay and a separate coin as a bonus.
The exact origin story of the challenge coin has been widely debated by military historians, though the first traces of them date back to the Roman Empire. This article will focus on the history of handing out such coins, and how we still benefit from the practice today. Roman Legionnaires, military personnel and private sector companies have all used challenge coins to show membership and achievement within their ranks. Historically, a challenge coin holds the emblem or insignia of a specific group and is carried by that group’s members. If you’ve served in the Military, Law Enforcement, or in any government agency, you’ve probably seen challenge coins passed around.
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