When Cory Schwisow leaves the house, he rarely walks out the door without a small but meaningful item in his pocket: a military challenge coin. After 23 years in the U.S. Navy, those coins still serve as a quiet reminder of service, sacrifice and the people he’s served alongside.
“Even after I retired, it is very rare that I leave my house without having a challenge coin of some shape or form in my pocket,” said Schwisow, Monroe County’s director of emergency management. “Every coin has a story behind it, and it really should.”
Challenge coins are an enduring tradition across the armed forces. Historically presented as tokens of appreciation, recognition and pride for service members who go above and beyond, the exchange is deeply personal. Traditionally, a senior leader presses a coin into the palm of someone junior in rank during a handshake, symbolizing an informal “thank you” that often means more than an official medal.
“Chief petty officers always have a Navy chief coin in our pockets,” said Schwisow. “It’s a token of respect.” When a sailor went beyond their normal duties, he used that coin to send a clear message of “I see you, I recognize your hard work, and here’s a token of my appreciation.”
The challenge coin tradition stretches back far in history. Some historians trace the roots to ancient Rome, when soldiers received specially minted coins to reward bravery. Centuries later, during World War I, a wealthy American lieutenant had solid bronze medallions made for his flying squadron.
When one pilot was shot down behind enemy lines and escaped to a French outpost without his ID, he was nearly executed as a German saboteur. He produced his squadron medallion, and a French officer recognized the insignia, delayed the execution and gave him a bottle of wine instead.
As the tradition evolved, so did a lively culture around it. By the 1960s, commanders used coins widely to boost morale, creating unique designs for specific ships, units or deployments. It also sparked the famous, unofficial “coin check” tradition still alive in military bars today.
“When you’re at a bar and tap your challenge coin on the counter,” Schwisow explained, “anyone who can’t tap theirs in return has to buy the drinks.”
Today, challenge coins mark everything from promotions and reenlistments to visits from high-ranking officials. But for Schwisow, the meaning behind the metal is what matters most.
One of his most cherished pieces dates back to his time as a young sailor aboard the USS Enterprise, when his daily tasks included making coffee for a high-ranking captain throughout a six-month deployment. At the end of that long stretch at sea, the captain approached him, shook his hand and quietly passed him a challenge coin.
“I still have this coin,” Schwisow said. “I would rather take a challenge coin over any military award I’ve ever gotten.”
Over more than two decades of service, including a combat deployment to Yemen, Schwisow accumulated coins that tell the story of his career. Some commemorate commands he’s served with; others honor people he’s lost, including a tribute coin created for a close friend who died of cancer. Another rare coin from the USS Enterprise’s final deployment is especially meaningful, as it was given only to the last crew before the historic ship was decommissioned.
The tradition has followed him into civilian life. On a vacation in Michigan, he met a group of sea cadets and quietly pressed a coin into the hand of a standout young man.
“I said, ‘Hey, I really appreciate what you do, and keep up the great work,’” Schwisow recalled. “It’s just something that continues on.”
Even in his role protecting the Florida Keys, Schwisow carries the tradition forward. While serving as the director of emergency management, he designed a custom coin featuring his office’s logo on one side and the county logo on the other, using it much the way he did as a Navy chief; a tangible, personal thank-you to local heroes.
It’s a practice shared by other local officials, including Monroe County Commissioner Jim Scholl, who carries the tradition, and the physical coins, with him wherever he goes.
“Challenge coins are small, but each one carries a story,” Scholl said. “They represent a person, a unit, a mission or a moment that meant something. The military has a long tradition of using challenge coins to recognize service and show appreciation. Every coin in my collection reminds me of the people behind it.”
For Scholl, the custom bridges the gap between military history and civic pride, offering a unique way for local government to mark historic milestones and thank those who step up during crises.
“The county has created several over the years, including some given after Hurricane Irma and on the county’s 200th anniversary,” Scholl noted. “Most recently, we made a 250-year commemorative coin for the nation’s anniversary.”
Much like Schwisow, Scholl finds that the simple act of carrying a coin keeps that spirit of connection alive in daily life.
“I usually always carry one with me,” Scholl said. “They often spark conversations among those unfamiliar with them.”
From ancient legions to modern veterans in local government, challenge coins remain a powerful symbol. They may fit in the palm of a hand, but they represent a lifelong connection to service.
