Challenge Coin History
History of the Challenge Coin:
During World War I, brave young men from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit.
One pilot in this squadron placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore around his neck. Shortly after acquiring this bronze medallion, his aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol.
In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment one night, he escaped. However he had no personal identification on him.
This young pilot succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and soon reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him.
The pilot had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine and helped him celebrate his escape from the Germans.
Once back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.
Rumor has it that this event precipitated the metal dog tag.
A "Coin Check" consists of a Challenge and a Response.
1. RULES:The challenge is initiated by drawing your coin, holding it in the air by whatever means possible and state, scream, shout or otherwise verbally acknowledge that you are initiating a coin check. Another, but less vocal method is to firmly place it on the bar, table, or floor (this should produce an audible noise which can be easily heard by those being challenged, but try not to leave a permanent imprint). *If you accidentally drop your coin and it makes an audible sound upon impact, then you have just "accidentally" initiated a coin check. (This results in you buying for all coin holders in your presence.)
The response consists of all those persons being challenged drawing their coin in a like manner.
If you are challenged and are unable to properly respond, you must buy a round of drinks for the challenger and the group being challenged. Most current versions of a coin check have a time limit of 10-30 seconds as the acceptable time for a response.
If everyone being challenged responds in the correct manner, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for all those people they challenged.
Failure to buy a round is a despicable crime and will require that you turn-in your Coin to the issuing authority.
2. WHEN - WHERE:
Coin checks are permitted, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE. Yes, even in the shower or another part of the restroom.
3. EXCEPTIONS:
There are no exceptions to the rules. They apply to those clothed or unclothed. At the time of the challenge you are permitted one step and an arm’s reach to locate your coin. If you still cannot reach it - SORRY ABOUT THAT! Predetermined time limits still apply.
4. A COIN IS A COIN
If it has been made into a belt buckle, it is now a belt buckle; if it has been made into a money clip, it is now a money clip; you get the rest. A coin (and only) a coin is a coin.