Challenge coins

Here are some challenge coins I recently picked up

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I think the Maple Flag is from 2010, interesting that the number is 000

Nice finds too, when did these challenge coins start being awarded? I do not know anything about them to be honest

The challenge coins have been around for a bit, the yanks really started it off around the Desert Storm conflict, although I do have a RCAF WW2 coin, more of a good luck coin than challenge coin. The 'Mericans seem to have a challenge coin for everything nowadays, Police, Fire, Govt agencies have all jumped on the challenge coin bandwagon.
Some challenge coins also seem to be made unofficially, especially the American special units, Navy Seals, Marines, SF community, ebay is full of these coins.

It is interesting to see how many Canadian Challenge Coins have come up. There must be a distinction between a Challenge Coin and a commemorative or keepsake coin.

I almost always have my Irish Regiment of Canada coin in my pocket. It has been with me since I got it in 2005. We now have a much larger, more ornate one to commemorate our 100th Anniversary.

I have a couple coins that were given to me in KAF for doing what I considered my job. I will post the in a bit, as I have to dig them up.

I figured I better do this now because I have the attention span of a gnat.

Here are the coins I have at hand. The upper left is the Irish one that lives in my pocket. The one below that is our newest Commemoration coin for our 100th anniversary.

The one with the JTF Air Wing was given to me for getting them out of bind in regards to mechanical abusive failures of their ground equipment (forklifts, tow motors and couple other items)

Not sure who gave me the Enduring Freedom one. But IIRC these were available at the PX.

The one in the middle with the black ring on it is from my company. Wait until you see the second side of it. Lovely. This one was awarded for 1 year consecutive service. The building on it is what we called the OASIS. I actually helped build that place.

The one on the right lower was again given to me by the CF but why??? I don't know.

The last one is of course a Commanders Coin. Awarded to my entire section for helping to keep the vehicles ready to go and upgrades done in a very short time frame.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Cliff, I don't see any pictures?

Well that sucks, wonder if they are slow to load? Working fine on my computer and on my mobile phone.