Obama Arriving In New Jersey.

[coccinelle]

Can anybody tell me what Barack Obama is slipping into this soldier's hand (and there may be two things...), just intrigued...;

[DJHawkes]

damn, bet he had tickets for garths show at the wynn in vegas last saturday and couldn't make it so he's promised them to the officer.

[vulcan42]

can anybody here lip read?

[Clanad]

It was probably a Challenge Coin... Big thing in U.S. military, especially one from the Commander in Chief...

Seen here: http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n46a15.html

[FredPuli43]

Clanad, that's fascinating. It can't be an old tradition; nothing in the USA can be an old tradition; but when did it start ? The President has , at some time,had the US mint run off what we would call tokens just as a kind of gracious tip but with extra meaning.

Hardly Maundy Money; the only time when our head of state gives away anything; but charming.

[anneasquith]

his telephone number ? :)

[douglas9401]

It all looked a bit masonic. :P

[anneasquith]

I didn't see any peenies douglas ?

[coccinelle]

Thanks for your answers. i guess Clanad will have the answer in his post being American an' all. I will look out for this on other of his visits. I only realised this morning that he gave the two 'things' to two different people as the guy behind is hidden.

[Clanad]

Apologies for late back-check... Fred, here's a brief history of the Challenge Coin... smoe might infer playing fast and loose with history... but, interesting nevertheless:

http://makecoins.com/history_coins.html

Additionally, here's a coin that was dropped:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/101719454

Tradition would dictate a "coin check" at this time... anyone who had a Challenge Coin within earshot of the dropped coin would have to produce it and the person dropping the coin would loudly state "... Coin Check..."


This is truly a revered tradition among the more physical (my descriptive word) segments of the military... such as the Seal units (think Seal Term 6) and any Special Forces units... I've friends that are survivors of such units... very close knit and caring decades after having served...