Description

Custom WSSBC Challenge Coin

The history of challenge coins is a bit unknown, with some information dating back to Roman times, when soldiers were given ‘coins’ for their exemplary service in the battlefield as well as a day’s wages and to honor their achievements.  The most common told story from more recent history recalls a story of an American pilot who was gunned down in World War 1.  He was captured by German forces and stripped of all identification.  The pilot was however left with a medallion he wore in a pouch around his neck.  He later escaped from the Germans and wound up being taken in by French troops. The French believed him to be a German spy and had sentenced him to death.  The pilot used the coin around his neck to prove his identify, therefore sparing his life and returning to his combat unit. 

In more recent times, military units have used these coins to promote camaraderie by using what’s called a ‘Coin Challenge’, in which one member presents his coin, taps it on the bar and ‘challenges’ other members.  Those members who are not able to present their coins are responsible for buying the first round.  If all members present their coins, then the ‘challenger’ buys the round. 

 Challenge coins have evolved and are very prominent in the law enforcement and first responder community now.  They are often held as tokens of membership to a specific unit or the larger agency that one works for.  At times they are given as a token of thank-you between agency partners or when law enforcement, military or first responders interact with people they meet in their work and personal life. Of note is every President of the USA since President Clinton has carried their own ‘coin’ and often give them to world politicians.  It’s well known that George Bush gave several coins to wounded soldiers during his time as a token of appreciation for service.

 As you can see, the history and significance of the challenge coin is vast.  Working in law enforcement for the last several years, both Trevor Carruthers and Jeff Jackson noticed the Wild Sheep community has several similarities to the military and law enforcement community.  Dedication, membership, allegiance, camaraderie, commitment, and unity are all words that can be used to describe both groups. 

Wild Sheep Ambassadors Trevor Carruthers, Jeff Jackson, and Darryn Epp put their heads together to create a similar coin that Wild Sheep Society of BC members could carry with them and be proud to display their membership in the society.  Each ram on the coin are unique contributions from the WSA program.  Two rams were photographed by Darryn Epp.  The other two rams were photographed by Jeff Jackson.  The stone ram is a photograph of Trevor Carruthers’ first stone sheep ram, taken in BC.  Trevor Carruthers designed the coin and worked with designers to come up with a representation of the 4 subspecies of BC sheep and also display the unique logo created in 2016.

 These coins are meant to promote membership in the WSSBC community and to be used for outreach when working along provincial biologists, engaging politicians, meeting and collaborating with other WSF Chapters or Affiliates, and creating outreach opportunities throughout the province.  Members should be proud to carry their coins as their token of membership and cherish memories made with these coins at their side.  Challenge coins can’t be purchased by just anyone, and the significance of receiving one from someone has an impact that people cherish and often creates a strong bond for this reason.

Purchase your coin, carry it with pride and be proud of your allegiance and dedication that come with a WSSBC membership.  Show it to friends and tell them the story of the Wild Sheep Society of BC and the greater Wild Sheep community.  Engage with them and tell them the importance of your membership and why you carry that token with you as a commitment to wild sheep in the province of BC.  Heck, carrying it may also be a great idea if you ever find yourself at a local ‘watering hole’ or at a WSSBC event and someone taps their own on the bar…..