A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization's insignia or emblem and carried by the organization's members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members.
They were given to military members by their chain of command or others for recognition of a job well done. You were supposed to carry it with you. If someone coined you and you didn't have it or couldn't top the coin they had you had to buy a round of beer.
What they mean to me? A job well done. Some where given to me by for being the best MP of the month. For reenlisting, for not being afraid to stand my ground and do my job no matter what the rank of the person was that I was dealing with. The are reminders of all the goodntime I had while in the Army.
This is wonderful! I have all my coins in a bag and have been looking for a nice way to display them. This is the best shelf I've seen. What router bit did you use?
some stories say that he challenge coin began when Vietnam era soldiers came from the field, they would often carry a bullet from their weapon, sort of a way to show that I'm bigger and badder than you… That quickly escalated to guys carrying larger and larger ordinance and it got out of hand. The coin replaced it with command and unit insignia.
Could be all bunk or all true or combination of both to any degree, but still a nice little read. I have my coins and haven't built a display yet. Will probably get to it before too long. I don't have that many, maybe a dozen or so, but some of them mean a lot and some are kind of cool looking.