Double sided Challenge coin special to our Durango Harley-Davidson Location.
This is a custom collectible specific to our store alone.
How does a challenge coin work?
The challenge is initiated by drawing your coin, holding it in the air or by whatever means necessary and stating somehow; scream, shout or otherwise verbally acknowledge that you are initiating a coin check. Anyone with a coin should then proceed to throw their own coin down or draw it. Either the lowest ranking buys the highest ranking a drink or the last one to draw buys the person who initiated the challenge a drink. If you normally have a challenge coin on you and cannot produce your coin you then buy everyone a drink.
The Story Behind the Challenge Coin:
There are several stories detailing the origins of the challenge coin. According to the most common story, challenge coins originated during World War I.
In one of the squadrons, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One of the young pilots placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore around his neck. Shortly after acquiring the medallion, the pilot's aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. He did indeed escape, however, he was without any identification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.
Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenging in the following manner: a challenger would ask to see the medallion, if the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenger member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive. It has then become more popular in groups outside of the military but carries the same tradition as it once did.