With over 20 million American veterans and counting, you can bet someone will challenge you to the post-World War I game, Challenge Coin. Originating in the armed forces, Challenge Coin was meant to boost military morale when times got tough. But now, it’s a cantankerous military tradition carried out by veterans across the nation. These days, you don’t have to be a part of the military to play, but you should still be privy to the Challenge Coin rules. Read more to learn what challenge coins are and how to leverage the rules to get a leg up on your opponents!
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How Do Challenge Coins Work?
Someone yells or calls out “Coin check!” and slams their hand on the table to alert the group they mean business. Everyone at the table who has a coin must reveal theirs. It’s frowned upon not to have your coins present with you during the coin check, so make sure you bring your coins with you at all times. You never know when someone will initiate a coin check.
Military Challenge Coin Etiquette
Military coins aren’t just for fun. They’re honorable symbols that come in all shapes and sizes for each branch of the military. Each one of them represents teamwork, unity, and proof of a particular membership or service you performed in the military.
What Are the 5 Official Challenge Coin Rules?
The rules for challenge coins are simple. Knowing how and when to approach every occasion is a different story. Getting ahead of the curb will earn you trust and valor in the face of a tricky colleague’s sneer. Here are the five most important coin check rules.
1. The Challenge and Response Rule
When you initiate the coin check, you are the challenger. Typically, you would slam your coin on a table. All other coin holders present must slam their coins down in response. Anyone who doesn’t respond in time must present their own challenge coins for everyone to see.
2. The Penalties for Not Responding to a Coin Check
The person who doesn’t respond in time for any reason must buy everyone who successfully responded a round of drinks or any other mutually agreed upon service.
It doesn’t matter whether you:
- Have no challenge coins
- Forgot to bring your challenge coin with you
- Don’t want to participate
If you don’t participate, you are practicing poor military etiquette. If you continue to fail, expect successful participants to mock you incessantly. Failed coin checks merit this behavior.
3. If Everyone Successfully Responds…
If all participants are prepared for the challenger’s coin check, the challenger is penalized. You must offer a round of drinks to everyone in your group. If you aren’t in a bar, you must agree to perform some kind of mutually agreed upon service by your group.
4. Challenges Can Happen Any Time, Anywhere
You should always be prepared for a coin check. If there are at least two coin holders present, expect a coin check. No, anticipate it. Whether or not you’re aware of the presence of two challenge coins in your vicinity, the possibility of a challenge should always be in the back of your head.
Even in a locker room…
But, coin checks in the middle of a funeral or an emergency, not okay. Never do this.
5. Few Things Ever Grant You Immunity to a Coin Check
Whether you gifted your challenge coin to a loved one, you lost it, or it was stolen by a competing group, you must replace your challenge coin.
Until then, drinks are on you, buddy. Tough luck.
Coin Check!
Well, what are you waiting for? Show me your challenge coin! Oh, you don’t have one? Hey, bartender, the next round of drinks is on this dope! Jokes aside, we hope this article revealed everything you need to know about the challenge coin rules. If not, guess that means drinks are on us.
