Show Notes Episode 314: Check A Coin With Your Witcher

This week Host Dave Bledsoe slaps a coin down on the bar and demands free drinks only to be told his useless memorabilia is not legal tender. (Again) On the show this week we are talking about the curious culture of the Challenge Coin! (COIN CHECK!)

Along the way we learn what Dave had to do to earn his only Challenge Coin. (Fortunately it did not involve an Ookie Cookie as far as we can tell!) Then we dive right into the odd history and application of a military tradition that has somehow crept into the everyday life of America. From its humble beginning in the Roman Legion, where the Imperator would reward the Butchest Optio in the ranks, to its evolution over the skies of France in World War One, where the leader would press one into the hands of the butchest gunner in the squadron! (Oh Carl, you are SO virile!) Finally the modern incarnation that began with bullets and like most things involving the Special Forces grew out of control really quick! (Never drink with Specs Op, just don’t!) All the way up to today, when Challenge Coins are handed out like tic tacs by assistant managers during the monthly sales meeting at Quicky Jim's Reliable Second Hand Cars! (Vernon you’ve topped last month's numbers AGAIN!) If you don’t know what a challenge coin is, you will by the time we are done thus earning yourself a challenge coin! See Dave for your coin!

Our Sponsor this week is Seltzer Koin, when you really want a coin and don’t mind paying for it, Seltzer Koin! We open with NBC News talking about challenge coins and close with Violet Orandi coin checking her local Witcher!

Show Theme: https://www.jamendo.com/track/421668/prelude-to-common-senseThe Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHell_PodcastThe Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/www.whatthehellpodcast.comGive us your money on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/WhatthehellpodcastThe Show Line: 347 687 9601Closing Music: https://youtu.be/HiXY-xghv-QWe are a proud member of the Seltzer Kings Podcast Network! http://seltzerkings.com/

Citations Needed:

Coin Checkhttps://99percentinvisible.org/episode/coin-check/

Challenge Coin Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin

A Brief History of Challenge Coinshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/12630/brief-history-challenge-coins

Military's prized 'challenge coins' become copycat fad among agencies, politicians, companieshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/militarys-prized-challenge-coins-become-copycat-fad-in-federal-washington/2011/02/12/ABaTEZQ_story.html

NYPD Defends "Challenge Coins" That Call East Flatbush Precinct "Fort Jah"https://gothamist.com/news/nypd-defends-challenge-coins-dubbing-east-flatbush-precinct-fort-jah

Uncited Additional Reading:

https://www.courant.com/breaking-news/hc-br-state-police-challenge-coin-trooper-tirade-20200715-43pydiewrnff7bp7g6ckfp7alm-story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/us/politics/challenge-coins.htmlLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices