My first coin was from AA, 30 days without hooch.

@Chrisamos412

3 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

I never even heard of a challenge coin until some years after I retired in '97

@TXMEDRGR

3 жыл бұрын

It was the same with me, I retired shortly after you.

@jamesstark8316

3 жыл бұрын

@@TXMEDRGR Ditto me. I retired in 1998.

@Crustymarine

3 жыл бұрын

Although I have heard of these during my 25 years in I don't recall challenge coins being a big "thing".

I'm always surprised to hear of people who were in the sea cadets. I wish more kids got involved with the program today

@XENONPLASMA

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah. I was in the Air Cadets before High School and it was great. You hardly hear anything about it now sadly.

@kimberlainodriscoll4781

9 ай бұрын

I was in Sea Cadets and later Civil Air Patrol. I went on to serve as a Navy Corpsman.

During my time in from 80 to 86 never heard of challenge coins. I think the first I ever heard of them was sometime in the mid 2000's from some of my AF veteran coworkers.

I'm very happy to see my ships coin there (USS San Juan SSN 751). Super proud to be a part of the ship and her crew. Also happy to see that I'm a part of the video indirectly.

I was watching one of your other videos last night and was hoping you'd make one about coins. Didn't have to wait long!

I retired in '95 and might have been aware that the Army had this strange thing called Challenge coins. I have only one Challenge coin that I had to buy at an Airshow. My last squadron was HSL-35 that I was in when it decommissioned in '92. At the Airshow there was a display with HSM-35 which was the recommissioned HSL-35. They had Challenge coins that had the HSL-35 seal on one side and the HSM-35 seal on the other. Being that I would never be presented a coin I bought one.

@cmiller9800

3 жыл бұрын

Most people do buy them rather than get them. At my last command, the skipper would give a few out every once in a while during quarters, but those folks usually did something that deserved more than a pat on the back but less than frocking.

When Gen. Hal Moore gave a speech at my alma mater, the commandant gave him one of our institute. He looked at like the cheap trinket it was. Made up my mind then and there not to collect them. A handshake is still King.

Glad to see more of these videos coming out. Always interesting stuff!

While working at Portsmouth Navel Shipyard, I was presented with a number of them. Many of them were from the COB.

84-93 first heard of them a few months from Army retiree . Thanks for the information master chief

Awesome video Master Chief! Do one on the Boatswain Whistle and Lanyard!!!

I first heard of the challenge coin in '97 or '98 from OSCM Ottoviani who was the CMC for Commander, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka. He just came from a tour at the Pentagon and heard about them from the other branches there and started it at CFAY after he arrived. From what I can remember, his coin had the CMC badge logo on one side and the CFAY logo on the other. He only gave them out to other Chiefs and to Sailors of the Year, Quarter, and Month. After I transferred to Norfolk, VA in '98, the CMC onboard USS Ponce (LPD 15) was doing the same thing. After 9/11 I noticed the NEX was going crazy with all kinds of challenge coins from Vanguard who would put anything on a coin to make a dollar, but the real challenge coins could only be obtained from the commands. I've seen all kinds of coins just like the ones you have and I've heard of one that has a functioning scuttle that opens. I don't remember what group or command has that one but it's right up there with the Swiss Army knife/Leatherman coin you have in uniqueness. After retiring and getting a job with Military Sealift Command, I noticed it's very common for both Navy and MSC to exchange official coins without having to go before a worthiness board or knowing somebody. I have a few coins but never got into collecting them en-masse like some do. A lot of Navy guys don't realize that in MSC we have to buy these coins ourselves, including the captain, because the coins aren't bought with Appropriated or Official Representation Funds (APF/ORF) like they are in the Navy. Several times I've had disappointed Sailors from visiting ships expecting to trade coins only to be told they have to buy them from the Ship's Store because I and others don't have any on-hand to trade and unfortunately the Ship's Store is usually closed when they come over because it's usually opened at night for a couple hours when the ship is out to sea because the Ship's Store Operator is a collateral duty, not a fulltime job like it is in the Navy. They always bicker they don't have to buy them on their ship when walking away. Unfortunately MSC doesn't support awards programs like the military so anything other than a letter, official certificate, or one of the very few official lapel pins or civilian medals, everything else including plaques and coins must be purchased with personal funds.

Way cool !!! Thanks for sharing, not just the collection, but the history as well 🤙🏽🇺🇸🇺🇸

When I retired from the Navy at the end of '94, there were no "challenge coins"...at least none that were mentioned, let alone circulated during my time in the Navy. The first i heard of them was in 2003 when my Son came out of boot camp...the Navy has changed so much, its certainly not my sons fathers Navy today. So very different!

I retired from the Navy in 1994. I never heard of a challenge coin until after 9/11. I do however, remember liberty cuffs.

@slicksterbiden8762

3 жыл бұрын

The coin is a nonsense trinket from the Army. ENC Ret.

@JO-gr5bp

3 жыл бұрын

I retired in 94 also.

@Chrisamos412

3 жыл бұрын

USN ‘81 - ‘85 … I’m right with ya brother. Possibly a zippo or belt buckle from our ships store, but that’s it.

The first challenge coin I seen in the Navy was in the mid 90s. Before then nothing.

I was in for 12 years (1962-1974) and never heard of them.

To me, Challenge Coins are a relatively modern concept. Didn't seem to be overly prominent during my time in service (1974-1994) and I didn't actively collect them. Challenge Coins are more or less the baseball cards of the Military. Belt buckles and Zippo lighters were more of a collection item during my time. I wonder whether Challenge coins developed from those items. Those medallions always seemed to eventually fall off the buckle or lighter.

@Shellback96

3 жыл бұрын

I did the lighters and ballcaps of other commands. I have several caps from US ships and even from a French Frigate and a Dutch Destroyer. I had also traded lighters with a sailor from the Australian Navys HMAS Hobart. I had not heard about challenge coins until my last year in the Navy in 02. About ten years ago the crew of my first ship DD969 got together and made a coin for the boat, of which I immediately got my hands on, and like my memories of the ship and crew, I treasure. GSM2 91-02

@JohnFourtyTwo

3 жыл бұрын

@@Shellback96 About 10 years ago I traded a Zippo for a British submariner's ballcap. Ironically the submarine was an old diesel submarine the US sold or gave them when we went nuke. The sailor told me they were on their last deployment and would be decommissioning the sub when they got back home.

What a great collection, thanks Master Chief. QM1

The earliest (and only, until the 1980's) coin was the Buffalo Nickel of the 17th Infantry Regiment dating to the Korean War, where several squadrons and regiments kept courtesy bottles at the Top of the Mark bar in San Francisco. The nickel was the identifier, and was worn on the dogtags, as it was actual size and had a hole for the purpose.

Enjoying the videos thoroughly. However the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat. The oldest commissioned warship is HMS Victory. I visited Old Ironsides and the sailors onboard were very conscious to include the "afloat" part.

I was a Seacadet from 2000 to 2003, and probably the real reason I joined the Navy. I really enjoyed the program and am proud to have been in the program.

Very touching!

I was a USN submariner 1962 - 1970. Civilian engineer on Navy shipyard 1975 - 1998. Never heard of a challenge coin during that time. Peace broke out, shipyard closed, went to work for Air Force as civilian engineer. Challenge coins all over the place. Thought it was an "Air Force thing;" it appears the tradition blossomed while I wasn't looking.

@johncopple6479

3 жыл бұрын

I think you hit the nail on the head with your summation of the way these things grew. Thank you for your service!

I never heard of challenge coins until they were in some episode of the JAG television show. Actually, I think one was also used in the final episode for the flip of the coin to decide if Mac or Harm would be the one to resign their commission.

It looks like your titling for "Old Ironsides" is misspelled "Old Ironssides" (an extras "s"). I've watched quite a few of your videos and they are always impeccably precise. So I figure this was introduced as a test to see if anyone is paying attention.

Personal experience USAF 1971-1975: Never heard of anything like a challenge coin. However, my daughter followed me in to the AF in 2010 and she obtained a challenge coin.

I received a coin from Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Meyers in 2003 aboard Camp Pendleton. I bought a plastic display stand from the PX and put it in my wall locker. Mexican stole it before the end of week one. I wrote a letter when General Dunford was CJoS, he was my regimental commander, to see if he would send me a replacement. Turns out you can't just write a letter to people in those positions and my letter was returned unopened.

I saw these in Korea on Army and Air Force bases and was always glad they were not a thing in the Navy before I retired.

Beirut in '83, eh. I didn't of that incident until weeks later. I was involved different incident with the 82D ABN at the time.

I didn't see them back in the early 90s when i was in the Navy but seen allot when i was in the Army

@gunz4450

3 жыл бұрын

I had never heard of one until a few years ago. 2nd class Gunners Mate, '89-94.

@adrianfirewalker4183

3 жыл бұрын

Same here

Thanks master chief. I used to sit with John Dalton (man could he sing) at St John's Church, Lafayette Square and the FBI Director sat behind us. I was usher during the Bush II presidency. Senior chief, retired.

I remember working for a battle E and the fleet admiral gave the E to the ship he was on political to me a lot of hard work I got out soon after that.

I had a USS Okinawa LPH-3 PlankOwner Zippo!

Wow, the .999 silver one is awesome Master Chief

Before Challenge Coins became popular within the entire Armed Forces. First it was introduced by the early French Air Force in WWI by a friendly rivalry between one squadron or pilots in a bar to see who first would show their unit coins first as a challenge. The loser would either buy drinks to the winner or do something humiliating performance for the victor. By WWII this was revived by American Paratroopers, they all produced unit coins to challenge each other and soon every member would carry one in their pocket or inside and sewn into their garrison cap on their Parachute Infantry Patch, later or earlier put a Silver Dollar in them. When Paratroopers back in WWII when they drink in bars, they love to fight, and fight with anyone because they are arrogant bastards because they jump out of airplanes. Commonly in peace time after any wars, especially after WWII, Korea, and Vietnam even being veteran of any Airborne Unit you must have proof first a coin and name you unit correctly from your time and service. Answer your class number at Airborne School and remember how you went through Airborne School. A 5 jump chump to a real Paratrooper will never forget what they did. I have road tripped a lot of places in the US and stopped at truck stops with guys who are homeless or not but scamming for tax free money come up to people that they claim to be Rangers, and Paratroopers, and Combat Veterans. When they come up to me where ever and start telling me their story. First is I ask them where they went to Airborne School? Then I pull out my convenient Paratrooper Challenge Coin and ask them for theirs. They don't produce, then they are BULLSHIT! A 5 Jump Chump or a Paratrooper will never forget for the rest of their lives. There is one dude who claimed he graduated Airborne School and got everything right but only did 2 jumps and quit., and not get his wings officially. He claimed himself to be a Parachute Qualified soldier after many years after being discharged and getting a DD-214 with no parachute qualification what so ever. No one will ever know unless the US Army Airborne School will ever have a data base which has the name and roster number of each class from start to finish went to qualify with 5 jumps. This guy thinks he is safe while alive. His son is a fully qualified paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. I want his son to find out how his father was a liar he was. I am going to leave it as that.

6:53 Why is the one from the the Naval Academy upside down. I think some Army guy snuck in and did something.

@Master Chief's Sea Chest Were you ever The Doc on a submarine?

@RoderickGMacLeod

3 жыл бұрын

I think a video about IDCs would be very educational.

When you mentioned the origin of the coin you briefly passed over the Roman empire which is the true nature of where they came from. It started with the fact that the legions were commanded by different generals and we’re separated from Rome for most of their existence. The leaders of the legions would stamp their own faces and unit insignia on the coins that they would pay the soldiers with. I.e. Caesar, Pompeii and the others. The unit number such as the 13th the 23rd etc. would also be stamped on the coin. When said units would return to Rome or Constantinople or meet in other cities, they would pay with the coins they earned while on deployment. Hence when two separate legionnaires or members of the same legion would meet at a tavern or bar their would be a challenge on who would be the most loyal and or signify where the soldier came from. It became a point of pride “do you have one Or another’s coin”. Each legion were celebrated by the populace much like we celebrate sports teams today, they had favorites and non-favorites and fans. You mentioned lack of references, here you go: www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1781&pos=0&sold=1

can US Marine CSs ever be assigned to the West Wing restaurant or are they strictly sailors?

Question where are these coins struck or stamped or is it just one company that make these coins for those who hand them out? Who pays for these coins and have you ever been challenged ?

Are you sure the oldest commissioned war ship is old Ironside. I thought the HMS Victory was.

I'm a bit older than you and my recollection from the 70s is that they only guys that I knew who had challenge coins were members of elite units like the Special Forces. Then, over time, as with most things in America, everyone had to have them to the point where they've lost all significance, much like collectible Elvis plates.

@JohnFourtyTwo

3 жыл бұрын

This is the story I was told also. I joined the Navy in 1985 and never heard of them until 1997 or '98 from the Command Master Chief who just transferred from the Pentagon said it's a new thing for the Navy but the Army has been doing it for decades.

@JohnFourtyTwo

3 жыл бұрын

A couple Vietnam friends who were in the Army said they had them back then, but it was the Special Operating Forces that had them, unlike today every command has one.

@johncopple6479

3 жыл бұрын

USMC 79-86 myself. Never heard of challenge coins until downing a frosty cold beer at Trident Saloon in Tucson,Az . Starting in 2002. They are cool and I have seen a ton of them since 2002. Go Skins !

I have a Korean 1950-51, reversed Buffalo challenge coin. Do you know who minted these coins and how many were minted? My father was a Korean war veteran!! I would appreciate any help, I've been reaching that ends with all my inquiries. Sincerely, Vietnam veteran Normand Goupil

I was in from 77 to 85 never heard or seen them.

Chief, Help Old Iron Sides was commissioned in 1797 but H.M.S. Victory commissioned 1778 even google said USS. The Constitution is the Oldest commissioned ship afloat even throw Victory the senior. can you help explain this to me?

@JohnFourtyTwo

3 жыл бұрын

USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, HMS Victory is in permanent drydock due to severe structural damage. It actually sprang a leak and sank in April 1854 due to the deteriorated hull from lack of maintenance funds when it was re-rated a second class ship and no longer received the care it did as an admiral's flagship.

@donabele1243

3 жыл бұрын

Jack, it all comes down to one very important word - afloat. While VICTORY is older, as JohnFourtyTwo points out, she's from from afloat being in a dry dock held up by some pretty stout beams. Whereas CONSTITUTION is afloat at the Charlestown Navy Yard and is routinely towed out into Boston harbor and twice a year actually sets her sails. I've had the pleasure of visiting VICTORY many times and while her active duty crew and their equivalent of a historical society do their best as preserving her, she will never be sea worthy again. Be well, Don USS CONSTITUTION Command Master Chief, 2005-2008

I consider challenge coins the same as gremlin bells for motorcycles. They were probably not something that organically happened. I suspect both were gimmicks produced to make money from newbies. Once enough newbies bought them, they then became mainstream. Both seem to have come around in the late 90s as well. This would make them an earlier Millennial phenomenon. I don't know of any Gen X or Baby Boomers who even had challenge coins or gremlin bells if they are old school. Some of the Gen X and Boomers who started riding after around 1990 , may have bells, but those of us riding since the seventies consider them silly.

Who designs and pays for the coins?

@BrightspearConsult

3 жыл бұрын

It depends on who’s giving it out. If an individual is giving out a coin, he or she had paid for it designed it and ordered it and then hands it to whoever they want. If the unit has a coin normally it’s done in conjunction with a fundraising event such as a ball or mess night fundraising. The senior enlisted and senior officer are usually the ones that make the decisions while the troops are the ones that come up with designs to be considered. Some unions follow the tradition of the coins that came before them of the units change based upon the needs wheels and whims of the troops. There are several companies that make the coins which you can easily find on Google. They have design staff that help you make them or you can design them yourself

@JCchan99

3 жыл бұрын

@@BrightspearConsult great answer, thanks a lot!

The only coins I remember are the SF coins that the 10th SFG from Ft. Devens would put on the bar and get free drinks with at the combat zone in Boston in the mid 80's. I'll never forget that Trojan Horse on the coin. The penalty for not buying drinks for the owner of the coin would be those sum b^^ches stealing our battalion colors or our company guidon and thus forcing our battalion commander or company co having to go to their barracks and asking for our colors or guidon back. When I pulled CQ i would keep our guidon behind my desk to keep them them from stealing it. Good times, but now it's all gone :-(

I didn't see a US Navy, Popeye coin, lol, I have four or five left if you would care to have one. A friend gave me a dozen of them, I've given them to friends and family that served in the Navy.

Master Chief do you have an email I could reach you at to request a charge. Thank you.

You’re missing a coin from the Abraham Lincoln. I have a few if you wish to have one.

Master Chief, i have a topic near and dear to your heart, The first Army Navy Hospital in Hot Springs AR, i need to discuss with you. please email or reply.

@rickthorp8363

3 жыл бұрын

I grew up in Hot Springs and know the old Army/Navy hospital down town real well, right off bathhouse row.

@Brick.dad.builds

3 жыл бұрын

@@rickthorp8363 sadly its closed now and wasting away. no one wants. it im a retired first class, and CPO spouse. im reaching out anywhere nd everywhere to save this iconic landmark.

Challenge coins...because not everybloody looks good in a special T-shirt!!!😎😂🤑 Itty-Bitty Bitcoin!!!😉

I have seen coins that circulate in the black world: CIA, NRO, NSA, NNSA, etc.

Hey my name is Tyler i'm 13 years old . I collect police coins , may you send me a couple of military coins i would love to have someone

@tyler241

3 жыл бұрын

*some