Custom Military Challenge Coins In The Media

Custom military challenge coins have long been a part of military life. Up until the past couple of decades however, they’ve been relatively unknown in the civilian world. That’s rapidly changing, due in part to mentions of challenge coins in popular media.

The Origins of Military Challenge Coins

While there’s no clear account of how military challenge coins came to be, the most popular legend indicates they originated in World War I, the creation of a wealthy Army Air Corps lieutenant who gave custom coins to his squad mates.

Other stories say the challenge coin tradition began later, during World War II or the Vietnam War. No matter when they began, custom challenge coins have become a recognized and cherished aspect of military life over the past few decades.

The Increasing Visibility of Challenge Coins

From television dramas to movies, novels, and even news programs, challenge coins have become much more visible in modern media within the past 20 years or so. It all leads to greater public, and in some cases even military, awareness of the benefits and popularity of custom coins.

Challenge Coins In the News

NBC Nightly News expanded the popularity of challenge coins with a report on them in 2009. The report even showed the traditional handshake delivery of challenge coins. At the end of the report, correspondent Roger O’Neil showed his NBC coin, and then-anchor Brian Williams showed a full collection.

In 2018, the New York Times published a feature story detailing the history and popularity of challenge coins, and their increasing adoption by civilians as well.

Books 

Author James Rollins used a challenge coin as a device to identify a dying man who stumbled out of the jungle as an Army Special Forces soldier in his 2002 novel, “Amazonia.” 

Another author, James Rosone, uses challenge coins in a different way. He presents the coins to his readers as a way to thank them for purchasing his books.

Brad Thor, like Rosone, a writer of political thrillers, also offers challenge coins to promote his books, and also offers limited edition coins for sale on his website.

Television and the Challenge Coin

The most common examples of custom military challenge coins in the media have occurred on television.

E-Ring

Not surprisingly, the shows that feature challenge coins are typically military-themed dramas. One of the first among them was NBC’s “E-Ring,” a short-lived series which debuted in September 2005.

The show focused on the Pentagon, hence the title. The five concentric rings of the nation’s defense headquarters are labeled A through E, with the outermost being E-Ring, the one occupied by the top military leaders of the country. All U.S. military actions must be approved by those leaders.

In one episode, a general calls for a “coin check” of a rival. When she is unable to produce a challenge coin, he uses it to imply she’s not qualified for a senior position.

JAG

Perhaps the most dramatic portrayal of a challenge coin occurred in the series finale of the CBS series JAG. The Navy-themed show featured “judge advocates” (commissioned lawyers) from the Navy Office of the Judge Advocate General. The program ran for a total of 10 seasons.

 In the show’s final episode, the two main characters flip a coin to determine which of them will have to resign his or her military commission when they marry. The show ends on a freeze frame of the flipped coin still in the air, the characters’ fate unknown.

NCIS

Navy-themed shows such as JAG have perhaps used custom military challenge coins the most. JAG spawned an even more successful spinoff, NCIS. The long-running series has used coins as an integral part of popular episodes. 

In one episode for example, Special Agent Tony DiNozzo receives a coin from the Secretary of the Navy. DiNozzo, in turn, explains the meaning of the coins to another agent, explaining that those from higher ranking officers are most valued. Therefore, with the SecNav challenge coin, he will “never have to buy drinks again.”

In turn, the success of NCIS led to additional spinoffs, including NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Origins.

Challenge Coins on Film

Movies have used custom challenge coins as well. In the Tina Fey film “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” Fey’s character was offered a coin by a Marine Commander. In the independent film “Range 15,” one character gains access to a facility by using challenge coins. Unfortunately, neither film did particularly well at the box office.

The Impact of Challenge Coins in the Media

It’s a simple fact. Custom military challenge coins have won greater recognition from the civilian community. More people today are aware of them than ever before. That has led to increased popularity of challenge coins outside the military.

Today, police and fire departments, emergency medical services and other first responders have adopted their own challenge coins as a way to celebrate excellence and commemorate service in their agencies.

Schools and nonprofit organizations also use challenge coins to promote their causes and to raise both awareness and funds.

Businesses both large and small have discovered the benefits of using challenge coins to reward outstanding performance and achievement of goals, celebrate work anniversaries and more.

Even more individuals than ever are creating custom coins to celebrate personal and group milestones, memorialize lost friends and love ones and commemorate significant events in their lives.

Exploring Challenge Coins

If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of challenge coins for your own organization or event, we’re your Number One source. With 20 years’ experience, ChallengeCoins4Less.com can meet all your custom coin needs. We’ll work with you to craft coins you can display, give or sell with pride. Our talented, experienced professionals will walk you through every step from design to production to shipping to ensure you get exactly the coins you want.

Ready to find out more? Call us at (855) 272-8451, email us at [email protected] or fill out our no-obligation free quote form. Let us show you how easy and fast it can be to order your own custom challenge coins!