Description
History of the Challenge Coin
The tradition of the challenge coin surfaced during World War 1 era when the practice of carrying a coin or medallion designed for a specific unit was mostly popular with the Army Special Forces. It was later adopted by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. The soldiers were to carry the coins at all times and present it when “CHALLENGED”, to prove their affiliation with a particular unit or branch. Absence of the coin to prove your affiliation with the unit or branch of service resulted in numerous consequences. The most popular consequence required the soldier to buy a round of drinks for the challenging unit. This practices continues to be popular as it was back in World War 1.
