You’ve heard a few things about military challenge coins, and you’ve even seen a few veterans displaying theirs in public.
Now, you’re curious about the specifics of challenge coin history.
Perhaps you want to honor a veteran by giving them a challenge coin.
Or, maybe you want to make customized challenge coins a part of the marketing strategy for your business.
Either way, it’s important to understand the history of challenge coins, and how they got their start in the military. This post is here to help you learn all about challenge coins.
Read on to learn about how these coins are changing lives — and in some cases, even saving them.
Challenge Coin History: What You Need to Know
First, let’s get into detail about the history of challenge coins.
Challenge coins got their start in the military.
Each member of a unit was given a coin, and a game quickly rose up around the possession of them. Whenever the members of a military unit would head out to a bar, they’d make it a point to bring their coins with them.
At some point during the evening, one soldier would slowly and secretively hold up their coin. The other soldiers with them would do the same, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
The last soldier to pull their coin out of their pocket and hold it up was responsible for buying the next round of drinks.
But challenge coins go way beyond a simple drinking game.
Now, the coins are an awesome way to honor a veteran’s service and to build a sense of belonging and community in the ranks.
To learn more about challenge coin history, we suggest that you check out the Custom Challenge Coins website.
In addition to understanding how they’ve helped members of the military, you can also order your own challenge coins online.
The Benefits of a Challenge Coin
So, you can answer the question, “What is a challenge coin?”
Now, let’s move onto a discussion of why they’re so important, and the unique benefits that they can offer those who receive them.
In the military, the coins were mainly used to create a sense of loyalty and camaraderie between soldiers and units.
But once those soldiers get out of the military? These challenge coins also help veterans to realize that what they’ve done for their country hasn’t been forgotten. Additionally, the coins can help veterans to quickly find one another in public.
Especially as the rate of soldiers with conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression continues to rise, the coins can ease the transition back into the civilian world.
Don’t be surprised if, the next time you’re at your local watering hole, you spot a few people holding up their challenge coins! If you see this, we suggest that you thank these veterans for their service — and maybe even buy them a round.
They’ll be impressed that you know the meaning behind these special coins.
All about Challenge Coins Today
Now that you have a better understanding of challenge coin history as it relates to the military, let’s move onto a discussion about the role of challenge coins today.
First of all, challenge coins have recently been celebrated as excellent ways to spur on social change and raise awareness about important issues.
For example, many mental health professionals have made giving patients challenge coins a part of their practice. The challenge coins have the number of the National Suicide Prevention hotline printed on them, as well as a yellow ribbon.
Now, the coins make it easier than ever for people to ask for help when they need it the most. When a veteran, a young student, a struggling working mom, or even an elder who is concerned they’re a burden on their family is considering suicide?
They just show their suicide prevention challenge coins to someone they trust. This is a symbol that they need help — and a tactic that has likely saved countless lives already.
In addition to helping with difficult and deeply personal situations?
Challenge coins can also help companies to implement better employee recognition and even customer appreciation methods.
For example, a boss could give out custom challenge coins to honor employees that have made a certain number of sales per month. A workplace could also use challenge coins to thank customers for their years of loyalty.
Additionally, coins have become a cost-effective and unique marketing strategy for many brands across industries. Branded coins are the perfect promotional product for companies to give out at events like trade shows, presentations, or even in gift bags.
In short, there’s no limit to the many ways in which you can use challenge coins in your life and as a part of your business or nonprofit.
Make Challenge Coins a Part of Your Life Today
Whether you want to use challenge coins as a way to market your company, honor the services of a veteran, or just as a way to celebrate a milestone in a friend’s life, we hope you’ve found this post valuable.
Though challenge coin history began in the military, now, the coins are becoming more and more commonplace across a wide variety of industries and offices.
Plus, best of all, they’re just lots of fun!
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