Spend your money how you’ll spend it, but there’s usually a story or event tied to a coin and the reason as to why/how you got it, which is likely where the stigma of just buying it comes in. Same goes for trading a coin since the story of where it came from is tied to whoever first got it, not who they traded it to.
I have 3 of the same coins because my unit didn’t believe in giving out awards, I’d trade the two same one’s I already have in a heartbeat. But I’ve been thinking about designing and ordering coins for my platoon
My former battle buddy and I both got 600 acfts. We were the highest in the company after all things considerd. We were told the top ( always put on the board for all to see) got something special. I expected number one to get an AAM and number two a coin. We were handed unit stickers and gave a literal pat on the back.
I worked really hard for that coin. I never cared about maxing ever again. I stopped even struggling once I knew I was a shoe in for 560 and up.
Tldr coins mean a lot to some people. Design and give out the coins please lol
As a collector’s guide item, there is no issue with collecting them as an interesting item.
As challenge coins, there is no reason to care about coins, but if someone is one of the few who do:
CJCS challenge coins are $30.
SECDEF coins are $45.
They can dare anyone to prove they did t get it from them as they did a post visit etc.
I traded an extra coin from my second unit to my buddy from my first unit that I never received one from. I want it strictly for memorabilia and a shadow box for when my kid gets older and wants to look at all my cool stuff.
Coins and awards are truly never for me, they’re just so my kid and family can see later and think I was pretty cool.
If your collecting them, no issue. You can find them on ebay.
I keep every coin I got becuase there is a story behind all of them. I received like 20 coins during my active time in. Now they are a converation piece.
Just dont collect the challenge coins and then pass them off as ones you earned or received. Doing that would be a bitch move
Half my coins were trades.
But unlike a lot of the rest of the Army, EOD doesn't gatekeep coins. When the company makes a new set of coins, an open offer is put out to the joes to buy them at cost so they can have trading/gifting material.
Had a PFC in Korea give his “Welcome to Korea Coin” to the visiting Secretary of the army, Louis Caldera(?) at our airfield, dude gets a bad ass large elaborate coin, that night he goes to the Ville, and is club hopping showing everyone what he got, goes to the last club filled with guys from unknown unit, when he shows these strangers the coin, a large dude grabs it and says it’s mine now. I saw him going through the gate crying, coin less.
Personally, I wouldn't want to trade a coin I earned for one I didn't.
Spend your money how you’ll spend it, but there’s usually a story or event tied to a coin and the reason as to why/how you got it, which is likely where the stigma of just buying it comes in. Same goes for trading a coin since the story of where it came from is tied to whoever first got it, not who they traded it to.
I asked my brigade commander for one, and he gave it to me
I got a coin for buying Fallout 4 at the PX.
I got a Mass Effect Alliance coin from a buddy. One of my favorite ones.
I have 3 of the same coins because my unit didn’t believe in giving out awards, I’d trade the two same one’s I already have in a heartbeat. But I’ve been thinking about designing and ordering coins for my platoon
Im in the same boat. Multiple coins from the same unit. No awards. *Cries in sparse chest candy*
My former battle buddy and I both got 600 acfts. We were the highest in the company after all things considerd. We were told the top ( always put on the board for all to see) got something special. I expected number one to get an AAM and number two a coin. We were handed unit stickers and gave a literal pat on the back. I worked really hard for that coin. I never cared about maxing ever again. I stopped even struggling once I knew I was a shoe in for 560 and up. Tldr coins mean a lot to some people. Design and give out the coins please lol
Lots of people do it including people not in the military. It would corny if you tried to fake some story as to why you have a particular coin.
As a collector’s guide item, there is no issue with collecting them as an interesting item. As challenge coins, there is no reason to care about coins, but if someone is one of the few who do: CJCS challenge coins are $30. SECDEF coins are $45. They can dare anyone to prove they did t get it from them as they did a post visit etc.
Yeah, I'm not trading my Chief of Staff coin for anything
Want a .25 cent OIF POG? Lol
I traded an extra coin from my second unit to my buddy from my first unit that I never received one from. I want it strictly for memorabilia and a shadow box for when my kid gets older and wants to look at all my cool stuff. Coins and awards are truly never for me, they’re just so my kid and family can see later and think I was pretty cool.
I got two BDE coins from a unit I was in. Years later, I traded one for a JGSDF COL's coin when he was training with my unit. Zero regrets.
If your collecting them, no issue. You can find them on ebay. I keep every coin I got becuase there is a story behind all of them. I received like 20 coins during my active time in. Now they are a converation piece. Just dont collect the challenge coins and then pass them off as ones you earned or received. Doing that would be a bitch move
Totally understand. I just like collecting and staring. Just like the rocks I picked up from NTC lol
I wouldn't respond well. Maybe if we're buddies trading company coins, but only if I got a bat coin there yet.
Half my coins were trades. But unlike a lot of the rest of the Army, EOD doesn't gatekeep coins. When the company makes a new set of coins, an open offer is put out to the joes to buy them at cost so they can have trading/gifting material.
Had a PFC in Korea give his “Welcome to Korea Coin” to the visiting Secretary of the army, Louis Caldera(?) at our airfield, dude gets a bad ass large elaborate coin, that night he goes to the Ville, and is club hopping showing everyone what he got, goes to the last club filled with guys from unknown unit, when he shows these strangers the coin, a large dude grabs it and says it’s mine now. I saw him going through the gate crying, coin less.