Challenge Coins are developed for
specific units (
military or otherwise) and is used to identify the bearer with their
organization. These
coins have a whole
mystique about them. (e.g., they can't rightfully be
pierced and used as a
keychain fob as an example).
If a group of
service people are in a bar and one of them asserts a challenge, everyone
within earshot has to produce their
challenge coin or they have to stand the challenger to a
drink. If the
challenger fails to produce
his/her own
coin if asked to, they have to buy a
round of drinks for those with coins.
There are nuances and subtleties with Challenge Coins. If you own one and somebody asks to look at it, that person can keep the coin if you hand it to them. The correct procedure is to put it on a table or bar and then move away so that the other person can look at it. It's generally understood that the owner should not go more than three feet from the coin. However, the person who wants to look at it can then pick it up and examine it without the ownership transferring. When the person is finished examining the coin, he or she should place it back at the spot they picked it up from, and the owner then retrieves it. Those are the main rules.
--Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
I myself have seen a number of
challenge coins. The person isn't necessarily required to carry a coin for their
organization, and in a pinch, any coin will do. I issued a challenge to my
Professor in my
Military History course at
Marist College to see if he could produce. He did (a
Morgan silver dollar I believe), and then foolishly handed me the item. I figured to
forego the rules, and let him have his challenge coin back. It was more
conducive to my getting a decent grade.
Should anyone DO dare to challenge me, you'll most likely lose. I carry my NSA challenge coin with me whenver I go out.