In honor of the Marine Corps' 243rd birthday, we have put together a small list of some of our favorite Marine challenge coins. Custom coins like these are awarded to Marines over the course of their military careers, and the end result is a personal collection that tells a story of success, celebration and shared experience. Each one catalogs the achievements and merits of a Marine and is earned through sacrifice and excellent service. Take a look at some of the designs we have created and let us know what you think!
Mountain Warfare Training Center Bottle Opener
For last year’s 242nd Marine Corps birthday, the Mountain Warfare Training Center contacted Signature Coins to make a unique bottle opener coin to commemorate the celebration. On the flip side of this coin, the Corps’ motto, Semper Fi, is printed along the shaft of one of the ice axes. The design on the front side of the coin is fashioned after the seal of the training center.
MSG Detachment Hanoi Dragon Coin
The coin below was created for the Marine Detachment Hanoi and the U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Vietnam. One interesting aspect of this design is the change to the Marine’s classic eagle, globe and anchor emblem on the front side of the coin. Normally the globe depicts North and South America, but this design has supplanted the western hemisphere with an outline of Vietnam, where the detachment and embassy are stationed. If you look closely, there is even a small star indicating where the embassy is located.
John J. McKenna IV Coin
This coin was created in memory of John J. McKenna IV of the United States Marine Corps. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom as a Second Lieutenant in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and then returned home to take up a career with the New York State Police. In 2005, McKenna felt compelled to continue his service to our Nation and joined Company F, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines as an Infantry Platoon Commander. While serving in Iraq, he was killed in action trying to help a fellow Marine wounded by sniper fire. This coin is carried by his friends and family as a reminder of his incredible life and outstanding service to our country. We are honored that in cases like this our coins are used to help others remember the courage and sacrifice of our Nation’s heroes.
3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines
The 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines is based out of Kaneohe, Hawaii. The front side of their challenge coin features the classic Marine Corps emblem, while the flip side has a custom insignia and slogan. This coin represents a more classic approach to design that many of our customers lean towards when making coins for the Marine Corps, however, the antique finish of the dark metal plating give the coin a nice weathered look.
9” Marine Corps Intelligence Activity Coin
The picture below does not do justice in representing the size of this coin. While most of the coins we make are somewhere between 1.5” and 3”, this coin has a diameter of 9”. It’s definitely not the type of challenge coin you would want to carry around, but imagine having this on you when someone initiates a coin check! It would be quite something to see a challenge answered with a coin roughly the size of a dinner plate. The reason for the coin’s size is the intended use as a centerpiece. The coin is going to be sealed into a table for the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity Headquarters.
Every year on November 10th, Marines wish each other a happy birthday as they celebrate their brother’s in arms and remember their fellow Marines that have lost their lives in service. Signature Coins is honored to be a small part of Marine Corps birthday celebrations all over the world by creating custom products like these that commemorate the heritage and culture of the Corps. We take pride in the fact that our custom products are shared and carried by our Nation’s heroes.
