Challenge coins are very popular right now. Military organizations have used them since the Roman Empire, but today they are also favored by corporate teams and civic groups. If you’re not familiar with challenge coins, you may wonder what they are.
This article will explore challenge coin history, how they are used today, and why challenge coins may be a branding tactic you want to use for your team.
Challenge Coins in History
Challenge coins have a murky origin story, but many believe they have their start in ancient Rome. When a soldier completed his work for the day, he received his salary. If he performed in an exemplary fashion, he would receive an additional coin as appreciation.
In modern history, the first challenge coin is thought to appear during World War I. Military members were issued coins with their unit’s insignia. Identification tags, also known as dog tags, told others who you were, but your coin told others who you were with.
The notion of calling these coins Challenge Coins also has a mixed story. Some believe soldiers would present their coins in a type of challenge to see who was responsible for paying a bar tab. Anyone without a coin had to pay the bill.
A more reliable account of the name comes from the idea that soldiers who accepted a hazardous challenge or demonstrated courage in battle received a coin as a sign of respect.
Non-Military Challenge Coins
There are other types of Challenge Coins outside of the military. Service organizations like police and fire departments issue coins with their precinct name or station number to signify membership.
Corporations often create custom coins for senior leadership team members and employees who commit to its success. They are great motivational tools since they are not given to just anyone on the team.
Why Use a Challenge Coin?
If you are part of the military, you likely use Challenge Coins to show respect, build camaraderie, and express appreciation for someone going above and beyond the call of duty. Police challenge coins are used for the same purpose.
What if you’re not part of the military or a police force? You can still use Challenge Coins for the same reasons.
Most people love to receive a reward or sign of recognition. If they feel like they are part of an exclusive group, they love it even more. In a corporate setting, you can use Challenge Coins to recognize those who work hard and outperform others.
Word of this kind of treatment gets around. New employees will work hard to receive a coin. Long-standing team members will work toward challenges and milestones to achieve status as a coin holder.
How you use these coins is up to you. You can have special events that can only be attended by presenting your coin. Consider different coins for varying degrees of accomplishments, so team members are continually motivated to achieve greatness.
Keep the History of Challenge Coins Alive
The challenge coin has a rich history of bringing people together, establish a sense of group-think, and motivating team members to achieve great things. Since ancient times, coins have been used to signify membership and recognition. Military units and service organizations use them to this day, and corporations now recognize their value.
To learn more about similar collectibles, motivational tools, and their history, explore the rest of our site.
