speagle

I am quite amazed with the responses being given about this topic. Rather than trying to determine if a Challenge Coin should be posted in the Military or Police forum, why not run a "Test Forum" for a couple of weeks and just title it "Challenge Coins"? They are literally thousands of coins available that are NOT military or police related that could be posted in this one forum. As an example, please check out this site: http://www.challengecoinusa.com/more-challenge-coin-samples.html

It does focus primarily on the military and Law Enforcement as you will see, but if you view the sample page, you'll see MANY other examples.

Just a suggestion for consideration by the Powers at the head of the GMIC

Thanks for considering.

Ed

Hi Mervyn,

There is an appropriate section within GMIC for these coins, wether Police or Military related, it is in the Special Section two down from this one 'COINS and COMMEMORATIVE items' I think it is called.

I don't believe you are correct, although always happy to be corrected, in your belief that these coins are being handed out by 'Official' organisations, I think they are really more like a fraternal item given to someone for their friendship or as a souviner. Anyone can obtain these coins at little or no money, just check out the US Ebay there are currently 313 listings for Police and Military Police related challenge coins at starting prices as low as $1.95, some very impressive designs on some of them. I didn't check the number of Military challenge coins but I expect it will be much more.

They are not an aid to identification, unless you are trying to pass yourself off as something you are not, I could buy a NZ SAS challenge coin off of Ebay today and carry it around with me but I am not a member of that illustrious unit. However others may feel the need to do this.

Having said this I do understand that some units do produce these coins specifically for their members and make sure that only members get them to use as unit identifiers from a cameraderie point of view, but how do you tell which is which when adding one to your collection.

A retired Police officer in the USA and Canada gets a badge to show they have served and as an aid to identification should they need to show they are afiliated with the department . A retirement badge is not purchased by the former member of the department ,it is an official item presented at the end of their career by the department, normally with a photo ID card. So in this repect it is not like a challenge coin.

Regards,

Les

REF #19:

Les, actually these are given out by "official" organizations. The US Military present them to acknowledge superior performance in many cases as well as for a "job well done". When a commander, or senior non-commissioned officer, presents a coin to an individual, or an entire unit, there is usually quite a bit of "Pomp and Circumstance" associated with the presentations as well (and sometimes even an award of a military decoration.)

These are highly valued from a personal standpoint and, although not from a monetary standpoint, quite sought after by many.

Ed

Here is mine, among the many I have, both military and civilian police departments:

Ed

She appears to be a police officer of the South Korean National Police Agency. It may be an older photo because the ones on their web site show them wearing white shirts. The badge is exactly the same as the one on their web site which states that badge was adopted in 2001.

According to their web site, her rank is Police Officer. Why the lowest rank has two rank emblems is, to me, a bit odd, but the next highest rank, senior police officer, has three.

Here's another interesting bit of trivia concerning rank structures-specifically the U.S. Texas Rangers. (From the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum FAQ)

http://www.texasranger.org/visitor/FAQ.htm

Are there any Ranger privates?

I'm so glad I asked you about them ,Ed. The article is quite fascinating and I tend to believe the first story about the origins - the shot down pilot. It seems to have the feeling about how traditions are started.

Sometimes we nod our heads when something is shown - and just assume that we know what it is all about. This proved to me exactly that ! I think they are very attractive pieces and if I were looking for a new collecting field, then I would think them worthwhile.

I hope we can develop a whole post on different versions - do you know if other Countries have them - I'm thinking of Canada ?

Mervyn:

Here is another site that may answer your question. Basically, ANY person, organization, military/police unit, etc can have challenge coins made. I did a quick Goole for Canadian Challenge Coins but did not get a specific hit. http://www.coinable.com/foreign_military_challenge_coins.html

Anyway, it may be an interesting opportunity to start a new topic line. I am positive many of our American military members can contribute HUNDREDS of examples.

Ed

Ed - what exactly is a 'challenge coin' ? It is beautifully cast and with good enamelling - I would have thought of it as a 'souvenir' for visitors.

Is it in fact - a form of identification for the officer ?

REF #3:

Hi Mervyn,

Here is a link about the Challenge Coins. This should answer your questions about them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin

Let me know what you think.

Ed

Got this one froma friend that works at the Travis County Sheriff's Department, Austin, Texas

Ed

Whatever she does - she's a d....d sight better looking then the ones in London ! Anything else from Korea ?

Hi Mervyn,

Taking the opportunity to "rebrowse" some of the earlier postings. as far as things from Korea, here are some items that may be of interest to some. The Korean AF Security Police badge was patterened after the USAF Air Police badge. I'm told the brassard translates to Military Police.

(BTW: I think I may have posted these pics before somewhere, but hope no one will get offended by the "double posts")

Ed

You have a very desirable USAF military law enforcement badge. The old shields with the "Air Police" title date back to the 1950's. The title on the badges was changed to

"Security Police" in the 1960s, I believe, to reflect the changing mission to include perimeter defense of air bases in conflict zones in addition to traditional police duties on the air force base. Thye title on the badge was changed again in the 1990's to "Security Forces" for reasons only to be guessed at. If you search the internet, you can find some cool photos of the old 1950's era "Air Police" standing guard with pearl handled revolvers on their gun belts. Something you would NEVER see nowadays........

REF #5:

As far as the reference to "pearl handled revolvers", I think we (Strategic Air Command Elite Guard) were the first to wear them. Possibly later the PACAF (Pacific Air Forces Elite Guard) may have. Check out this website and browse the tabs within for more info. Enjoy http://www.saceliteguard.com/

Ed

Possibly a Training Instructor or Platoon sergeant's helment?

Ed

One thing I have seen in recent years are the "Challenge Coins". These are presented by commanders/senior NCOs to individuals and/or entire units in a gesture of appreciation instead of a medal. Many military members express appreciation for receiving them, but also point out that they are NOT worth any points on a promotion board.

This particular coin is from the Commander, 20th Air Force and is actually a bottle cap opener

Ed

I have visited this museum a couple of times. Rather than share some of my shots I thought I'd just give the web site address. Hope that's OK.

http://www.sasmuseum.com/

Ed

Ed,

I highly recommend Barry Jason Stein's 1997 book "US Army Patches: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cloth Unit Insignia" (ISBN 978-1570031793). I had a copy, sold it, and now regret it -- it's going on Amazon for about twice what I paid for it.

Thanks Chris.

It is a pretty steep price, ($250.00 New --$79.00 used) but I'll look into it. Thanks for the info. I appreciate you making time.

Ed

I have a number of different reference book that help identifying US military unit insignias up to and including Viet Nam, however, nothing I can find that gives any overall IDs, with pictures, on current units from the 1980s forward. Anyone know of any NEW reference books on this subject?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Ed

33 Indian Corps, 2nd type. Design was also worn on a background the Corps colours of red / white / white. See p. 75 - 76, Howard Cole's Formation Badges of World War Two.

Best,

Hugh

As I was surfing for more info, I ran across this site. Thought you might be interested if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.petergh.f2s.com/flashes.html

Ed

Thanks Ed,

I will send you some variations of what I have had made in South Africa.

I am overseas but will get the wife to take photographs.

Regards,

Will

Thanks Will,

Looking forward to seeing the details.

Have a safe trip

Ed

Will,

Are the helment holders home made? Can you post a pic of the holder only? If you make these, can you provide dimensions please?

Once again; EXCELLENT collection.

Ed

Last two

Police Dog attack training

Christie arrives at the Police Court

Accident rehersal-Women police go into action

Learning how to make arrests

More pics-Noise training for horses

I found an old book at the Thrift store this weekend titled "SCOTLAND YARD".It was written by Sir Harold Richard Scott, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., K.B.E. who was the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, 1945-53. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Scott_(police_commissioner) It was published in 1955. It is a fascinating book that covers all sorts of topics abd has some great old pics. I have scanned a few for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy,

Ed

Finally got around to asking my daughter to take a pic of my shadow box. I did receive a couple more since I put this together but just haven't made time to add them. anyway, her ya go;)

The crests are what the Security Police used to wear on their berets.

Ed

Hi - Ed - and the Compliments of the Season to you and your family.

I was trying to work this nice badge out. Am I right in assuming it is for the Washington Police and that the Auxiliaries would be a 'back-up' Force - like the British Specials ? How old do you think it is ?

Hi Mervyn,

Almost every state, and many individual departments, have Aux. Police. They usually have most powers of the regular officers, except some cannot carry weapons or don't have arrest powers. Many Departments use them for special events (i.e., parades, large scale activities for such things as traffic control to free up the regular officers for other enforcement duties.) as far as age, I have no idea.

Thanks for looking and asking

Hope you are having a nice holiday season so far.

Ed

Beautiful collection.

Thanks for sharing

Ed

Not a BIG find, but he does like to check out antique stores while he's on vacation. He said he got this for me a few months ago while he was vacationing on the Oregon coast. Sent this to me for Christmas as I'm still in Texas with my Mom.

Somewhat generic, but I don't think this is used anymore.

Hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas.

Ed