Preserving Tradition: The History of the Military Coin

Courtesy Photo | Military coins have been an important part of preserving military tradition. (Army Photo/Spc. Jonathan Montgomery)  

02.24.2006

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Spc. Jonathan Montgomery
Third U.S. Army Public Affairs Office

There are probably dozens of stories about the origin of the coin.

While attending the U. S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in 1997, Eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Vincent W. Patton III did a research project to try to find out the origin of the coin presentation.

Patton's research turned up a 1969 issue of Soldier Magazine that offered the following story for a collaboration of stories from several U.S. Army Soldiers.

"As I said, it's one of many, but this is the one I tend to use in my explanation of the coin," Patton said.

The practice of a senior enlisted member presenting a coin or medallion to an individual actually goes back just about 100 years ago in the British Army.

During the War of the Boars, the officers were the only ones authorized to receive medals. Whenever an enlisted person did a good job, typically the officer he was assigned to would receive the award.

"The regimental sergeant major would sneak into the officer's tent and cut the medal from the ribbon. He would then call an all hands to formally 'shake the hand" of the exceptional soldier, and would "palm the medal" in the soldier's hand without anyone knowing," Patton said.

He went on, "The officers, of course, would sort of know what was going on, and typically condoned the action, as many often felt ill-at ease in accepting the medal in the first place - although there were a few exceptions. Whenever that would happen, other officers would cover for the enlisted men by blaming it on the nearby civilians who often stole goods from the army camps."

As time passed, the coin recognition was eventually extended to the American forces in WWI. By then, the British Army began recognizing their own enlisted soldiers.

The coin turned into a recognition piece which was specially struck with the unit's crest on it. Senior NCOs presented them as their form of recognition, since they were not authorized to present any medals or awards.

In Vietnam, the coin took a different twist of recognition - it became known as the "challenge coin" in which those who had them would slam them on the bar counter to challenge anyone in the bar if they had one.

"It was one of those Combat "machismo" things," Patton said. "If a person didn't have a coin, they would have to buy the bar a round of drinks."

As mentioned earlier, there are several variations of the "coin story." Today, the coin is pretty much widely used throughout all of the military forces in the world, both as a form of recognition, and even in some cases as a "calling card."

When act of achievement cannot be rewarded by ribbon, coins are an excellent alternative to distribute to Soldiers who have gone above and beyond one's normal duty, according to Command Sgt. Maj. William Shimer, 377th Theater Support Command's command sergeant major.

"It's something unexpected, something unwritten," he said. "It adds a personal touch when the Soldier goes that extra mile to accomplish the mission."

• Date Taken: 02.24.2006
• Date Posted: 02.24.2006 11:19
• Story ID: 5491