CGX Offering Veterans Coins

[RetireBy90]

Coast Guard Exchanges are offering a veterans coin to veterans on 11 Nov. For those that are retired military or veterans with Homeland Security ID the local CGX is a great store with exchange prices similar to Army, Navy, and Air Force exchanges. You can check if there is one near you at shopcgx.com

 

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

How does that differ from the regular https://www.mynavyexchange.com/

As to unit coins, after I retired I began hearing of them on TV.

Now 20 years later, they have began popping up at reunions.

Someone is making bank by minting those coins. I am confused though since they never existed during my 20-year Active Duty career, what are we supposed to do with such a coin?

My closest AFEES is on an Air Force base, I went there today for smokes.

 

[RetireBy90]

How does that differ from the regular https://www.mynavyexchange.com/

As to unit coins, after I retired I began hearing of them on TV.

Now 20 years later, they have began popping up at reunions.

Someone is making bank by minting those coins. I am confused though since they never existed during my 20-year Active Duty career, what are we supposed to do with such a coin?

My closest AFEES is on an Air Force base, I went there today for smokes.

I haven’t done any on-line with them except to find a location. The store is same as NEX and AAFES. And like the others no sales tax.

I never heard of coins while on active duty either, guess they are collectibles, if you go in for that.

 

[FDC319]

As to unit coins, after I retired I began hearing of them on TV.

Now 20 years later, they have began popping up at reunions.

Someone is making bank by minting those coins. I am confused though since they never existed during my 20-year Active Duty career, what are we supposed to do with such a coin?

No doubt that their presence has increased in the last 20 years, but they are not new in concept. I got my first one in 1993 for being part of a team which won a regimental competition. Now in my last month of active duty, I have 13 pounds of them. Most received as gifts, for winning something, high scores in a class, as thanks for assistance, for being a guest speaker at graduations(voluntold), commemorative type coins for a deployment, or exchanged between units. They are trinkets/keepsakes, and I'll make a display for them when I buy a house-currently in a rental. Some of them hold similiar value to me as my thankfully small collection of black bracelets.

You're right-lots of companies are making money off them them. Usually Korean or Chinese companies, but a few US based as well.

Army units, battalion or higher, actually have a small budget for them. Giving out official coins is regulated and can be audited. No restrictions on unofficial coins.

13 pounds of coins. Some are a bit gaudy.

 

[ransil]

I never saw them while active, old squadron has made them for reunions.
Wife gets the from her travels, given,trade buy .

 

[braumeister]

I first heard of them after I retired from active duty (yes, a very long time ago). I heard them called "challenge coins" since the idea was that if you were at the bar in the O club you had to pull it out of your pocket when challenged or else buy the bar a round of drinks. (Are there still O clubs?).

I've accumulated about half a dozen since retiring, one place or another. No real interest in them.