Challenge coins are
military coins given out by commanders and command sergeant majors at battalion and above level, at least in the Army. They are on-the-spot
type awards and pretty cool. I have a few from my service. If they fit into my coin trays (they are too big for 2 x 2), I would put them in with my
collection rather than in a drawer of my desk. The old story is that when you go into a
bar, pull out the challenge coin in your pocket if you have one and if the other person can't beat the rank of the person giving it, he buys you a beer. If he beats you, you buy the drink. My son has a three-star coin, my highest one is 2-stars. LOL. I have noticed recently that people collect these. They are pretty cool and
part of it is you are supposed to earn them to get them, so there is a limited supply. I am also willing to bet there are a lot of
forgeries out there because anyone can have them made.
Virgil