akbeemer
SURVIVOR
If the tokens are still redeemable, then they will do quite nicely.
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BMW challenge coins?
- Thread starter brownie0486
- Start date
If the tokens are still redeemable, then they will do quite nicely.
visian
look out!!!
Reminds me of when someone asked about “Hippo Hands” over on ADV. That poster took enough of a pounding that I don’t know if they ever came back. The thread had to be moved to Jo’ Mama.
I don’t care what anyone collects and it seems like these were for recognition
Gary
People have been collecting and trading things since the dawn of time. Challenge coins are just one of the later things....looks what's behind the president's desk. I still have bags of Boy Scout badges/patches that I remember using for trading when I would return to base camp after week long hikes. Some patches were so cool, it would require two of another kind to even things out. Ahhh, those were the times! 
Wkoppa
Member
Challenge Coins and tall tales
My barber has a slew of challenge coins, many from Generals, Command Sergeant Majors, foreign officers and one from a Secretary of Defense as that we are next to a 147,000 acre military installation. He thinks he gets them for repairing bad haircuts. He is an expert at recognizing visiting personnel that need a little disinformation to keep them busy during their stay. The classic was the Colonel who reported to the installations HQ's that someone was giving rides to fishing areas with a UH-1 (rotary wing aircraft). He was quickly asked if he had been to Aubry to get a haircut, then everyone laughed.
Wayne Koppa
Grayling, MI 49738
#71,449
My barber has a slew of challenge coins, many from Generals, Command Sergeant Majors, foreign officers and one from a Secretary of Defense as that we are next to a 147,000 acre military installation. He thinks he gets them for repairing bad haircuts. He is an expert at recognizing visiting personnel that need a little disinformation to keep them busy during their stay. The classic was the Colonel who reported to the installations HQ's that someone was giving rides to fishing areas with a UH-1 (rotary wing aircraft). He was quickly asked if he had been to Aubry to get a haircut, then everyone laughed.
Wayne Koppa
Grayling, MI 49738
#71,449
brownie0486
Well-known member
So another member posted Harley dealerships have challenge coins made and available to customers. I made it a point to run into someone I know who lives and breathes Harley's. I asked him if he'd ever seen the challenge coins at Superstition Harley or the other shops further distance in the valley. He pulls out his challenge coin from his pocket from Superstition Harley where he primarily gets his bike serviced. Yup, the Harley shop has them. He tells me you buy one for a few bucks but if you have service done there, and you ask, you get one for free there.
Want to increase membership comradeship and product/pride further which BMW does in the form of offering shirts one wears exclaiming their support and, mugs, hats, pins, patches further? A challenge coin isn't an off the wall idea, hell Harley once again takes the lead in product branding "goods".
Did you pay for a rally shirt at any of the rally's you've attended? Why? In years past, did you buy a rally patch? Why? Because you belong to a club comprised of members with same tastes in motors?
Why does BMW offer shirts, mugs, and other items at a rally? Why does this site offer branded garage mats; hats; MOA medical data cards; shirts; dry bags and pins? I suspect it's in part due to beemer owners interest in wearing/using branded items.
A challenge coin would not be out of place among the branded items listed for sale here. Hell BMW has issued mileage landmark recognition coins for as long as I can remember, at least back to the late 70's. One could further break it down to purchase a GS coin; GT; Brick coins etc in support of their particular steed they are riding or have ridden in the past if they were available at dealers/rally's. It wouldn't take a whole of of effort to offer a coin of some kind in the gear section to go with all the other branded items in the gear section.
I'd buy a rally coin to commemorate attending instead of a patch or hat or shirt, or along with any of those other items. And if the local dealers offered them like HD, I'd pick one of those up as well.
Want to increase membership comradeship and product/pride further which BMW does in the form of offering shirts one wears exclaiming their support and, mugs, hats, pins, patches further? A challenge coin isn't an off the wall idea, hell Harley once again takes the lead in product branding "goods".
Did you pay for a rally shirt at any of the rally's you've attended? Why? In years past, did you buy a rally patch? Why? Because you belong to a club comprised of members with same tastes in motors?
Why does BMW offer shirts, mugs, and other items at a rally? Why does this site offer branded garage mats; hats; MOA medical data cards; shirts; dry bags and pins? I suspect it's in part due to beemer owners interest in wearing/using branded items.
A challenge coin would not be out of place among the branded items listed for sale here. Hell BMW has issued mileage landmark recognition coins for as long as I can remember, at least back to the late 70's. One could further break it down to purchase a GS coin; GT; Brick coins etc in support of their particular steed they are riding or have ridden in the past if they were available at dealers/rally's. It wouldn't take a whole of of effort to offer a coin of some kind in the gear section to go with all the other branded items in the gear section.
I'd buy a rally coin to commemorate attending instead of a patch or hat or shirt, or along with any of those other items. And if the local dealers offered them like HD, I'd pick one of those up as well.
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PGlaves
#13338
Do not take the fact that I had never heard of such a thing as being in opposition to the notion of challenge coins. I simply had never heard of such a thing. I understand they are a popular thing in the military now days but my military experience ended as a Tech Sergeant (E6) in the Air Force, 1966-1972 during the Vietnam War, and I never heard of such a thing back then either. So if that is your thing, go for it. I think I'll go for a ride.
brownie0486
Well-known member
First you got to get the fatherland to approve of them I'd suspect.
weschmann
Kawa Afterthought
They are only appropriate where two or more individuals share a experience that they feel is unique and important to those individuals only. So just walking in to a bar and flashing a challenge coin only recognizable the individuals sharing a common past. So no, you would not be on the hook for buying a drink, unless of course, you meet another person who shared the same experience as yourself. For example, I was fortunate enough to experience the first BMW Authority Riders class at the Greer BMW training location, and at the end of the training, all participants were given a coin. So, if I were to go to a BMW event and meet up with any of the participants from the class either by chance or by design, if I didn't have my coin on me and the other participant(s) at the bar did, then I would be on the hook to buy him/her/them a drink. And well worth it too, as those folks put up with me dropping my bike probably 30 times or so during the two day class and only offered words of encouragement and patience. At the end of the two days, I felt confident enough to enter the herd within the figure 8 and iron cross configurations which was a big accomplishment for a 67 year guy coming off a high side broken ankle experience the year before and needing all the confidence building support I could find. And now, another year after the experience, I am thinking of purchasing another new motorcycle instead of giving up on the sport for good. So, the experience was excellent, and the coin is just another way to commemorate a quality experience for me..... YRMV....
rangerreece
RangerReece
Ranger Coin
Paul, it's a military tradition that has been adopted by other fraternal organizations. The Greer challenge coin, I WANT! Roberto Rodrigues, one of my instructors at the rally this year for the authority training, displayed the photos of the coin (shown above). Makes me want to attend the training that much more.
My ranger coin, (Ranger Battalion may have started the challenge coin tradition back in 1974, not sure, just know that when I left battalion no other unit I went to was doing the coin thing... took a while for the other units to catch up with the whole "espirit de corps" thing) resides in the uniform pocket of my daughter. When she was commissioned in the Airforce, we traded coins. I gave her, her first salute, and she gave me a dollar (also a military tradition) the dollar was a Susan B. Anthony coin... I gave her my beloved Ranger Coin that I carried with me my entire military career.
Occasionally we do the long distance coin check with a photo text of said coin.
Paul, it's a military tradition that has been adopted by other fraternal organizations. The Greer challenge coin, I WANT! Roberto Rodrigues, one of my instructors at the rally this year for the authority training, displayed the photos of the coin (shown above). Makes me want to attend the training that much more.
My ranger coin, (Ranger Battalion may have started the challenge coin tradition back in 1974, not sure, just know that when I left battalion no other unit I went to was doing the coin thing... took a while for the other units to catch up with the whole "espirit de corps" thing) resides in the uniform pocket of my daughter. When she was commissioned in the Airforce, we traded coins. I gave her, her first salute, and she gave me a dollar (also a military tradition) the dollar was a Susan B. Anthony coin... I gave her my beloved Ranger Coin that I carried with me my entire military career.
Occasionally we do the long distance coin check with a photo text of said coin.
Dang Reece, got a tear in the eye with that. Great story and the coin check with your daughter is awesome
rangerreece
RangerReece
Dang Reece, got a tear in the eye with that. Great story and the coin check with your daughter is awesome
Yeah... I miss her terribly. I tried to find the photos of our challenges, but they were buried in the photo app.
brownie0486
Well-known member
So BMW has issued coins in the past for events. It's just a hop, skip and jump to get other coins made to commemorate the national rally etc. Apparently someone at BMW was/is aware of the coins and thought they'd be a nice touch for attendees in Greer.
brownie0486
Well-known member
What makes you believe it would be a quantum leap? BMW is fully aware and authorized the Greer coins with the logo on them.
PGlaves
#13338
Because the "Greer" coins were for/from the BMW Performance Center which is a BMWNA corporate facility having nothing to do with the BMW MOA.
