Breaking the silence for Christmas -- Challenge Coins

I think a record has been set.
An entire week went by with 0 activity here.
With nothing for any of us to report on, I will break the silence with some Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wishes.
While I have not had anything to report after scoring the beloved Lorey cuffs a few months ago, I'll share some recent challenge coin acquisitions to end the record breaking silence.
Happy holidays and hope we all enjoy good health and new handcuffs!

Merry Christmas, Mark and to the whole forum! The market has been slow, so I have not found anything of particular interest to add to my collection, lately. I will echo Mark's message and wish everyone the best of health and for many great handcuff finds in the New Year! Cheers, everyone!
-Richard Knip-

It is Christmas morning here in Australia, wishing you all the best for tomorrow and the New Year.
I have no idea what a challenge coin is Mark but I've never seen the Saflok Mk5 buckle before. You have some quirky sidelines to your collection! 
Enjoy. I guess my envelope of badges didn't arrive in time for Xmas. I was lucky enough to find an old Hiatt end lock in my letterbox this morning, so I am happy, even if I did have to find it myself.
Cheers Paul

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year to all. Ron J
                                                                     

Merry Christmas all!

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

Dec 25, 2021

It is Christmas morning here in Australia, wishing you all the best for tomorrow and the New Year.
I have no idea what a challenge coin is Mark but I've never seen the Saflok Mk5 buckle before. You have some quirky sidelines to your collection! 
Enjoy. I guess my envelope of badges didn't arrive in time for Xmas. I was lucky enough to find an old Hiatt end lock in my letterbox this morning, so I am happy, even if I did have to find it myself.
Cheers Paul

Hi Paul.
No word yet from your Christmas gift.  You certainly would hear from me if the mailman delivered it.
Challenge coins may be mostly an American thing but the military first had these going back to WW1.  There is evidence that in ancient Rome, they had them as well.

These coins usually have the insignia or wording from a department or group.  They serve two purposes.  If a member of the group did something above average, heroic or memorable, his or her leader would present them with a coin reflecting their achievement. 
Other times, each member of a division or group either buys or is given a coin.  When having a drink at the bar, one of the group members will ask the other attendee to produce his coin.  If that guy does not have in on him, he buys the next round of drinks.  

This was mainly a military thing but in recent years, law enforcement, fire department, government offices and others, design and issue a wide variety of coins.
There are so many versions and shapes that collecting these have taken off in the last 10 years.  Some collectors only collect K9 dog coins, some like SWAT or Bomb Arson or helicopter coins.  I just stick to San Diego Sheriff and cuff/jail coins.

This link takes you to my San Diego Sheriff Department FB page.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/200996827572333

Here are a few cuff coins from eBay.  Many of them double as bottle cap openers.

Here are some Rivolier style handcuff keychains which open to allow these coins to be removed.
While their size is much smaller than US challenge coins and less detailed, I will make the assumption that they are French Challenge Coins.
If involved with a bar bet situation, these are more likely to be in the pocket of the challenged one as it is much handier to have on one's person.
Gendarmerie ("armed people") coins are representative with a military police force serving in civic communities in France.
In the US, the closest we have to this is the National Guard.

Here is another challenge coin set that I forgot I had.
I found it while searching for some cuffs in my interview with Emile Bradel today.

There are many coins with the cuff motif, and I only acquire what are in the cards, whether it is a trade or if they are not too expensive.

I am not sure what the numbers around the periphery is supposed to represent, but I surely would like to know.

The one side is a bottle cap popper.

A couple more cuff/jail coins for your viewing pleasure.

Paul Davies will like one of these, for sure.