Challange Coins? (1 Viewer)

[Jonesy77]

My cousin told me about Saints challenge coins. I had never heard of this concept. Is it new? Or has this been around for a while, and I'm just way behind the times?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ORLEANS-SAI...2579207QQihZ016QQcategoryZ25206QQcmdZViewItem

apparently my cousin didn't just make it up. Do any of you have one of these? Or is it just a clever marketing ploy to trick people into spending money on a gimmick?

Apparently the deal is at the bar, if you slam you coin on the table, and your buddy doesn't have on to reciprocate, he buys. If he does, then you buy. Is this really a "thing"?

 

[CabezaDeBakka]

Never heard of it but i think I have seen these at Circle K. Seems to be a cleaver way to get a free drink.

 

[CT Saints Fan]

Couldn't you just do the same thing with a quarter from your pocket? I think I read a description like that in a creative writing class once.

 

[Jonesy77]

Ok, so I'm not a dope for never having heard of this. I just didn't want the response to be "you mean you don't have one? What kind of Saints fan are you?"

 

[Wraith]

My cousin told me about Saints challenge coins. I had never heard of this concept. Is it new? Or has this been around for a while, and I'm just way behind the times?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ORLEANS-SAI...2579207QQihZ016QQcategoryZ25206QQcmdZViewItem

apparently my cousin didn't just make it up. Do any of you have one of these? Or is it just a clever marketing ploy to trick people into spending money on a gimmick?

Apparently the deal is at the bar, if you slam you coin on the table, and your buddy doesn't have on to reciprocate, he buys. If he does, then you buy. Is this really a "thing"?

This is something that actually began in the military. Different people would carry their unit coins and play the game just as you described. It seems it has now carried over to the NFL.

 

[Large Saints Fan]

The original tradition is from the military.

You get a division or unit coin in high prestige units.

All airborne troops carry them and units like the 101st and 82nd carry them.

If you claim one of these units and a guy pulls out his coin and you do not have yours you get a beating. Not just a bill for drinks.

Never claim what you have not earned in the military world.

 

[Saint Droopy]

The original tradition is from the military.

You get a division or unit coin in high prestige units.

All airborne troops carry them and units like the 101st and 82nd carry them.

If you claim one of these units and a guy pulls out his coin and you do not have yours you get a beating. Not just a bill for drinks.

Never claim what you have not earned in the military world.

Yep... in the Air Force... we use dto hit the NCO club, and someone slammed their coin on the bar.... you had to come with yours... if you didn't... you buy...

 

[Jonesy77]

It really makes more sense in a military context. First, you've actually "accomplished" something for the right to carry it. And also, its an understood concept that is somewhat easy to enforce. If someone at a bar slapped his down, there's no way I'd buy.

Maybe it has some use among a group of buddies who implement that understood rule. Interesting. I guess I know something cheap to get my cousin for his birthday next week now

 

[CT Saints Fan]

It really makes more sense in a military context. First, you've actually "accomplished" something for the right to carry it. And also, its an understood concept that is somewhat easy to enforce. If someone at a bar slapped his down, there's no way I'd buy.

Maybe it has some use among a group of buddies who implement that understood rule. Interesting. I guess I know something cheap to get my cousin for his birthday next week now

Buy him a P.T. Barnum doll.

 

[Loose Cannon]

 

[airbornesaintfan]

The original tradition is from the military.

You get a division or unit coin in high prestige units.

All airborne troops carry them and units like the 101st and 82nd carry them.

If you claim one of these units and a guy pulls out his coin and you do not have yours you get a beating. Not just a bill for drinks.

Never claim what you have not earned in the military world.

I was in the military for 8 years played the coin deal, but never giving anyone a beating for not having their coin, just drank my beer when i finnished pulled the coin out again and make him pay again

 

[SW Saints Fan]

As a 16 yr and some change Marine I can tell you a Challenge Coin is a big deal. Every unit, at least the good ones, have their own coin with the unit logo on one side and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the other. Tradition goes you can "challenge" a current member of your unit and/or former member at the bar...if he has his coin, you buy. If he doesn't, he buys. I have about (12) of them on my dresser and I am darn proud of each one. Often you are given one by a visiting senior Officer or as a momento by a unit if you support them during a deployment, operation, etc. I carried mine in my pocket everyday during my most recent deployment to Iraq as did every Marine in my unit.

 

[BullDawg]

A military tradition originating with aviators.

http://www.we-belong.com/Pages/Misc Info/Challenge_Coin_History.htm

 

[Supertruck97]

Also, Many College Fraternities and Secret Societies also employ a Challenge Coin. It's pretty widespread, though the Military is where it originated. NFL Fan Challenge Coins?? I dunno about that.

 

[Supertruck97]

Found the story on an Ebay listing...

By some accounts, the military challenge coin tradition started in 1914 when eager young men from all walks of life joined newly formed flying squadrons. The story goes that a wealthy lieutenant purchased custom made medallions for all the men in his unit. One of the airmen put his medallion in a leather pouch that he wore around his neck.

During a bombing run, a U.S. plane was hit by enemy fire and forced to land in German occupied territory. The pilot was immediately captured by a patrol that took all of his identification, but for some unknown reason, let him keep the leather pouch with the medallion in it.

The young airman eventually escaped and made his way to a French town by stealing clothes and pretending to be a civilian. He presented himself to the French with a plea for help, but no one believed him to be an American since they did not recognize his accent.

Without identification to prove that he was neither spy nor saboteur, his captors quickly decided to execute him. As the final moment approached, the unlucky airman remembered his unit medallion and pleaded with his captors to open the leather pouch around his neck and look at the medallion inside. One of the captors recognized it and the execution was delayed to let the pilot contact his unit.

The airman’s identity was eventually confirmed and he received a bottle of wine as an apology from the French instead of a bullet in the head.

Because of this incident, a tradition began of carrying a unit medallion or coin at all times. To make sure that everyone participated, a Challenge Ritual evolved. The challenger would ask a soldier to produce his coin by saying “Coin Check”, pulling out his own coin and rapping it on a hard surface. If he couldn’t produce his unit coin, the soldier would have to buy a drink for the person who challenged him. If he did have his coin, then the challenger would buy the drink.

This time honored tradition is still going strong in American military units all over the globe. “Challenge Coins”, as they came to be known, are given by generals as rewards, traded between units and carried at all times. A well-prepared soldier is always ready for a challenge to be issued and answered.