Challenge coins may be an extremely new and amazing one to you. Guess what it means? Well, they are the kind of coins that you may want to use to build the morale and enhance participation within the service personnel unit. This creative idea was borne during the First World War when many volunteers had joined the United States Army air service, the Forerunner of the US Air force. One of the lieutenants and an order for small, compact, bronze medallions to be made. He presented the coins to the members of his squadron. One of the members placed it in a leather pouch and hung it around his neck.
Little did he know that the same coin would act like a 'savior' to his life. Much later he was captured by the Germans and the only thing he could save was the little challenge coin that still hang around his neck. He managed to escape but was later captured by the French who mistook him for an alien. As they were about to execute him he showed them the coin to prove is originality. He was released and he went back home to narrate his experience and that is how the challenge coined obtained its name.
More like it were minted and adopted by the military. The coin adopted a tradition whereby each member of the military had to show the coin on demand. If the challenged person did not produce it, then he would buy a round of drinks for the others, but if he did, then the challenger would be the one to buy the drinks. Today, they are used as a sign of loyally and military honor.
Author: Peter Gitundu
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Credit card currency-exchange fees
