The Significance Of The Military Coin

A military coin basically is a coin that is carried by the members of the armed forces and it has the emblem of the military on it. The purpose of the military coin is to prove that a person is really a part of the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Forces when that person is requested to show his or her military identity.

How did military coin start?

The true origin of the military coin still cannot be determined exactly because there are various organizations and services that have different claims concerning its origin. There is a legend saying that a rich lieutenant who was also an Ivy Leaguer started this tradition. He ordered small solid bronze medallions and gave them to other pilots in his squadron.

Surprisingly, this first military coin was very useful. A pilot wore the coin in a leather pouch around his neck. One time, his plane was damaged and he was captured by the Germans. All of his belongings were confiscated, but the Germans missed his military coin. During the night, the British bombarded the area where he was held and he used this opportunity to escape by wearing civilian attire. After some great difficulties, he managed to contact a French patrol. The French did not trust him and he did not have anything to prove that he is not a German. Fortunately, he still had his military coin and at last he could prove that he was really an American, a part of the Allied forces.

What has happened with military coin today?

Today, the legend of this pilot is widely known among military people. Military coin has become a tradition not only among the Air Forces, but also other branches of the armed services. Sometimes even organizations that have no military background also used the concept of this military coin. There is an organization that gives this kind of coin to its member as an award to improve the moral. In other cases, the coins are sold to celebrate special events and also used as a way to raise fund.

A few years back, President Bill Clinton showed his military coin collections that he has received from U.S. Service members. This important event took place behind his Oval Office desk so when his pictures were taken you could always see the coins on the background. In fact, a portrait showing this occasion is hung in the White House next to pictures of other presidents.

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