Military Challenge Coins
are also called commander’s coins, unit’s coins, honor coins, achievement
coins, award coins and many more. These name really suite this kind of coins
because all of them are related to military routine work. They are small medals
which usually commander of a unit presents to its workers. They are given on
different occasions. Commanders give them as award, membership, appreciation
token, etc. Many names have been given to these coins so far. This is because
they became popular from the very first use and still are in demand.
The price of each
military challenge coin may not be more than just a few dollars but people who
receive them feel great association with them that they feel unable to explain.
There are many stories
and claims of the first usage of military challenge coins. However, the most
authentic claim is First World War when US Air Force gave these coins to its
pilots to show their membership with the air force. In the expert point of
view, this is the true first ever evidence of military challenge coins. Each
pilot wore the challenge coin all the time. They used to wear them on their
collars of the uniform. The soldiers used to carry the coins even if they were
on special missions. These coins gave them a sense of motivation that they felt
towards their country. They highlighted the patriotism in the hearts of the
soldiers and they worked with full dedication, no matter they were miles away
from their houses and the people of their families which they loved the most.
Later Military Challenge Coins were used outside the military too. There were many private organizations
which issued challenge coins for different events. Like, churches and charities
used them to show membership to a noble cause. They used to use them for fund
raising. The fact is amazing that today many people have the hobby of
collecting them as fashion or passions.
People already familiar
with the importance of the Challenge Coins so, they became equally popular even
outside the military usage. The military challenge coins have proved a great
marketing tool with the passage of time. Many private (small or big),
organizations use them to promote their products. There are colleges, schools, sports
clubs, churches, NGOs who use them to promote their activities. The first
challenge coin a cadet receives during his career is on passing out ceremony. The
coin is given to increase their interest in their careers in that particular department
of the military.
No one can deny the
significance of this self-explanatory advertisement tool. That’s why people
adopt them to convey their message or mission in fewer words. The people who
design challenge coins are true artists with this particular skill. They know
how to express the dim idea which roams in a client’s mind into a true reality.
Today, there is no occasion left in the world which cannot be expressed with
the language of Challenge Coins. People have used them to make their wedding
day memorable for the lifetime because usually the life of a challenge coin is
more than a man himself.
This is a great idea, I never thought about this! I have been collecting Challenge Coins ever since my grandpa showed me his and the meaning behind it. Thank you for sharing this with us!
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