Is this medal rare, or common?

[goral432]

The guy I got this from told me it was very rare. Was he bs-ing me?

[jmpmstr]

Rare is a relative term. This is a Commander's Coin for Excellence so it is limited to the garrison commander (in this case) who awarded it as a personal recognition to someone. Some soldiers will value their coins more than a decoration or medal because it is a personal recognition from the commander. whether it is rare/scarce or not is relative to how many he/she gave out during the command and to whom it was given to. The fact that it is numbered indicates to me that they all were and there is a log or record in the garrison identifying the awardees by numbered coin. So in that respect it may be considered scarce but again, is relative. While not one of a kind, it is one of a few relative to how many regular medals are awarded over the same period of time.

[goral432]

Rare is a relative term. This is a Commander's Coin for Excellence so it is limited to the garrison commander (in this case) who awarded it as a personal recognition to someone. Some soldiers will value their coins more than a decoration or medal because it is a personal recognition from the commander. whether it is rare/scarce or not is relative to how many he/she gave out during the command and to whom it was given to. The fact that it is numbered indicates to me that they all were and there is a log or record in the garrison identifying the awardees by numbered coin. So in that respect it may be considered scarce but again, is relative. While not one of a kind, it is one of a few relative to how many regular medals are awarded over the same period of time.

Thanks for the info. I would think that it is very desirable because of it's low serial #. Does anybody out there collect these coins? Does every Military base, or outpost issue these coins?

[tom2001]

You might find this interesting:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin

[Brig]

Most 'collections' are in the hands of military members, and consist of ones they've been presented only. I know my Bn Gunner collects only ones presented to him, and has, I believe, over 300

 

I probably have 12-15 myself

[goral432]

Most 'collections' are in the hands of military members, and consist of ones they've been presented only. I know my Bn Gunner collects only ones presented to him, and has, I believe, over 300

 

I probably have 12-15 myself

++

Your Gunnie must be a heck of a shot! Maybe Ft. Carson will give me some info about who got it and why.

[Brig]

they're given for all kinds of things, not just marksmanship. I have two 'Plank Board' coins, for being a 'founding member' of a newly activated or reactivated unit. I have one from a Bn CO on PI for, officially, their marksmanship stats that week on my range, but I'm thinking because it was the first cycle out of probably 15+ where I hadn't had to drop a kid in training as a safety violator. The Generals and SgtMaj at the embassy in Baghdad used to hand them out almost at a whim to us gate sentries. One for a MC Ball, etc