Before it was history, it was someone’s life.Start a case OBJECT → UNIT → PERSON
Read the words and symbols on both sides. Search for a possible issue, then check the original collection record before connecting the coin to a person.
THE OBJECT AND THE TRADITION
A challenge coin is a specially made medallion bearing a unit, command, leader or event design. Coins can mark membership, recognize excellent work, commemorate an occasion or be exchanged as a gift. They are not official medals or proof that a collector served in the unit shown.
The famous World War I pilot whose medallion supposedly saved his life is a tradition story, not a documented origin. Defense historians found no written record establishing one beginning. Accounts of Special Forces unit coins in the 1960s and wider use by the 1980s are more concrete.
In a coin check, someone presents a coin and others show theirs; customs and stakes vary by group. Many coins today are presented by commanders or peers to thank someone for work. The person who gave a coin, and why, often tells more than the emblem alone.
Read the Defense Department’s account of the competing origin stories ↗ and the Army’s story of a coin designed for a Signal School class ↗.
START WITH YOUR OBJECT
Record the physical evidence before selecting a match. Keep a family account of who held it separate from the unit’s history.
20 of 20 cataloged references · 16 with photos on this page
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 931st Air Refueling Group
Catalog clues: 931st; Civil Engineer Squadron; Prime BEEF; bull
The museum describes a gold-colored unit coin and a Prime BEEF bull design. The 931st was later redesignated as a wing.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000002
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: III Corps; 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Catalog clues: III Corps; 3rd Brigade Combat Team; 1st Armored Division; Bulldogs
The catalog describes a pewter-colored coin with a gold-colored rim. Its related unit list is broader than the lettering shown; compare the original images.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000003
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment; 10th Mountain Division
Catalog clues: 4th Battalion; 31st Infantry; Polar Bears; Pro Patria; 10th Mountain
The museum associates this antique-brass-colored coin with the 4-31 Infantry. Its listing is filed under XVIII Airborne Corps.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000004
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 7th Civil Engineer Squadron; 7th Mission Support Group
Catalog clues: 7th CES; Dirt Boyz; Prime BEEF; bull
The museum notes a Prime BEEF bull design and associates this coin with the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000005
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 1st Cavalry Division; III Corps
Catalog clues: 1st Cavalry Division; Task Force Attack; OIF II
The museum labels a gold-colored coin with a 1st Cavalry Division association and notes the Task Force Attack OIF II context. Confirm the actual faces in its record.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000006
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 32nd Separate Infantry Brigade (Light), Wisconsin Army National Guard
Catalog clues: Wisconsin Army National Guard; 32nd Infantry Brigade; Red Arrow
The museum associates a pewter-colored coin with Wisconsin’s 32nd Brigade. “Red Arrow” is a unit clue; check the coin images for exact text.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000009
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 27th Special Operations Group; 16th Civil Engineer Squadron
Catalog clues: 27th Special Operations Group; 16th Civil Engineer Squadron
A silver-colored coin cataloged with these two organization names. The record does not establish which names appear on the metal.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000012
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 3rd Infantry Division Fires Brigade; XVIII Airborne Corps
Catalog clues: 3rd Infantry Division; Fires Brigade; Marne Thunder
The museum files this gold-colored coin under XVIII Airborne Corps and describes a 3rd Infantry Division Fires Brigade connection.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000014
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; 204th Support Battalion
Catalog clues: 2nd Brigade Combat Team; 4th Infantry Division; 204th Support Battalion
A dog-tag-shaped coin listed as carried from Iraq. The collection entry provides the associated organizations; inspect its photographs for the precise inscriptions.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000015
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: Joint Task Force Bravo
Catalog clues: Service to the Soldier; Integrity; Personal Courage; Loyalty; Duty; Respect; Selfless Service; Honor
The museum documents the inscriptions on both faces of a seven-sided antique-brass-colored coin.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000016
Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · source collection photographOrganization: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Catalog clues: Camp Arifjan; Kuwait
The museum catalogs a gold-edged enameled coin associated with the installation. A place coin cannot establish an individual assignment.
Coin record: Maine Troop Greeters & Museum · C000017
Eileen Hernandez / DFAS, via DVIDSOrganization: Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Catalog clues: American flag; Proudly Serve America’s Heroes; Army; Marines; Navy; Air Force; Space Force
The director’s coin recognizes employees for excellent service. The published photo shows the front and reverse; the services on the back are DFAS customers, not the recipient’s assignments.
Coin record: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service · 6463493
Laura Levering / U.S. Army Signal School, via DVIDSOrganization: U.S. Army Signal School
Catalog clues: CAC-inspired design; No Comms No Bombs; SBOLC Class 006-23
Designed by 2nd Lt. Michael Moser for his class. The Army documents the personal story behind the design; the photograph shows both faces. A later collector might have received one without attending the course.
Coin record: U.S. Army Signal School / DVIDS · 8154103
Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith / Pennsylvania Army National Guard, via DVIDSOrganization: 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 28th Infantry Division
Catalog clues: Black horse; keystone shield; 1898; 337th Engineer Battalion; 165th Military Police Battalion; 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery
The official caption identifies the design on both sides. The 1898 date is unit lineage, not the coin’s mint date or a holder’s service date.
Coin record: Pennsylvania Army National Guard / DVIDS · 8796435
Jason Rodman / Naval Information Forces, via DVIDSOrganization: Naval Information Forces
Catalog clues: Force Master Chief; Laura Nunley; Naval Information Forces
An official Navy photograph identifies a challenge coin associated with Force Master Chief Laura Nunley. Compare the published image for exact marks; a found example does not identify its recipient.
Coin record: Naval Information Forces / DVIDS · 8807451
CWO2 Lauren Jorgensen / U.S. Coast Guard, via DVIDSOrganization: U.S. Coast Guard public affairs awards
Catalog clues: Chief Journalist Alex Haley; public affairs award
The Coast Guard presents this coin to first-place winners of its annual JOC Alex Haley public affairs awards. A photograph of the issue is documented, but the pictured coin alone cannot identify an unknown recipient.
Coin record: U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters / DVIDS · 8142547Organization: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162
Catalog clues: Golden Eagles; VMM-162; eagle; sword; Marine Corps emblem; red enamel
The Smithsonian documents both faces and the donor. Compare the exact lettering before identifying a similar coin.
Coin record: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · A20130086000Organization: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Catalog clues: Ambassadors in Blue; USAF 2007; Thunderbirds; F-16; phoenix; flags
The museum record describes lettering and imagery on both faces of this specific issue.
Coin record: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · A20080413000Organization: U.S. Navy veteran recognition
Catalog clues: United States Navy; veteran
The Smithsonian says this coin marked its giver as a Navy veteran. It is a veteran coin, not evidence of a particular ship or unit.
Coin record: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · A20200060000Organization: Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force
Catalog clues: Space Force delta; four stars; Chief of Space Operations flag; signature
The Smithsonian records a coin donated by its distributor, Gen. Raymond. The four stars refer to his rank, not an award for an unknown owner.
Coin record: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · A20250063000