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Challenge coins collecting

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Collecting and buying military challenge coins

Challenge coins are cool and not too expensive to collect. You can easily buy them online nowadays. They are colorful and each one has an history. Not so long ago, challenge coins (also known as military coins) were an US military exclusive reward and moral boost token. Challenge coins are issued by various US military branches to their members. But challenge coins are becoming more and more mainstream. It started by becoming a popular collector's item; later on, some foreign military branches in Canada and Switzerland adopted them; and more recently we start seeing challenge coins being issued in other organisations (such as police and firefighters brigades).

History and making of challenge coins

The legend of challenge coins goes back to World War 1.

How do I start collecting challenge coins?

When you start collecting, the best thing to do before investing money is read a little, join discussion boards (and if possible a local club) to learn a little bit more about your future collection. Do not spend too much money on your first purchase. A nice way to start could be buying a couple of challenge coin lots, check them out and decide for yourself what you would really like to collect: everything and anything available? Only foreign challenge coins? Air Force? Police? A topic (such as coins with airplanes or tanks)?

Now before you start spending you hard earn coins on challenge coins, I want you to bookmark and read (not to say study) a couple of these great online resources.

And remember, when a collectible become very popular, there is potential abuse, fakes and reproductions.

Challenge coin collecting: Challenge coin collecting is the newest and hottest hobby today. Enjoy our collector's 1 on 1 perspective.
Challenge Coins: Challenge Coins Direct - Your direct source of custom challenge coins and military coins news and information from across the world. A place for Challenge Coin and Military Coin enthusiasts.
Challenge Coin Database and Information: Challenge coin database to all the known coins in the collecting world.
Challenge Coin Trading: Challenge Coin Trading
Challenge Coin Society: The written hobby of challenge coins that give you the insight in coins.

Challenge Coin Collecting 101

Buy challenge coins lot

Challenge coins in the news and blogs

St. Lawrence County announces coin-design contest: CANTON ? The St. Lawrence County Department of Emergency Services is designing ?challenge coins? to recognize acts of bravery, heroism or going above and beyond the call of duty. The contest is for the design of three challenge coins ? one for ...
Collector and collection photos coming in: ?I have collected badges, patches, coffee cups, challenge coins, etc., throughout my criminal justice career,? said the executive director of Tri-County Community Corrections. ?I have approximately 1000 uniform patches from law enforcement agencies ...
Sparta veteran visits White House as fallen comrade receives Medal of Honor: General Campbell took the men in his office and gave each of them large dog tag shaped challenge coins to commemorate their visit. Another ceremony was held at the Pentagon as they inducted Sabo into their Hall of Heroes. It was a remarkable experience ...
Coast Guard makes a wish come true: After the flight, crewmembers from the air station presented the family with mementos such as T-shirts and challenge coins. The family concluded their visit by having lunch with the air station's commanding officer. US Coast Guard photo by Petty ...

St. Lawrence County announces coin-design contest: CANTON ? The St. Lawrence County Department of Emergency Services is designing ?challenge coins? to recognize acts of bravery, heroism or going above and beyond the call of duty. The contest is for the design of three challenge coins ? one for ...
Collector and collection photos coming in: ?I have collected badges, patches, coffee cups, challenge coins, etc., throughout my criminal justice career,? said the executive director of Tri-County Community Corrections. ?I have approximately 1000 uniform patches from law enforcement agencies ...
Sparta veteran visits White House as fallen comrade receives Medal of Honor: General Campbell took the men in his office and gave each of them large dog tag shaped challenge coins to commemorate their visit. Another ceremony was held at the Pentagon as they inducted Sabo into their Hall of Heroes. It was a remarkable experience ...
Coast Guard makes a wish come true: After the flight, crewmembers from the air station presented the family with mementos such as T-shirts and challenge coins. The family concluded their visit by having lunch with the air station's commanding officer. US Coast Guard photo by Petty ...

Check out some nice challenge coin collections

Air Force Firefighter Talks About His Challenge Coin Made By CoinForce.com: by coinforce | video info

2 ratings | 9,066 views

curated content from YouTube

Rare and hard to find challenge coins

The best online reference for challenge coin collectors

Are you a challenge coin collector?

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cffutah Jan 7, 2012 @ 8:38 am | delete

I don't collect coins except in a big jar. enjoyed reading about things like this as maybe someday I'll do this.

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vallain Nov 25, 2011 @ 8:26 pm | delete

These are quite showy. I can see why collector's like them.

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Showpup Nov 19, 2011 @ 4:52 pm | delete

Fantastic coins!

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A-Redneck Mar 15, 2011 @ 8:06 am | delete

I had seen challenge coins before but did not know what their significance was. Thank you for enlightening me. Well done.

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DecoratingforEvents Oct 10, 2010 @ 1:25 pm | delete

I used to manage an awards shop that had lots of military contracts. We made coins for recruiters, divisions, etc... They loved coming in and designing their coins! Great lens.

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JaguarJulie Oct 9, 2010 @ 11:39 am | delete

Oh my goodness, but may I tell you honestly that I had never heard of challenge coins! Learn something new every day ... they look swell.