It started during—and possibly as a result of the plandemic, I repurposed a shelf for home decor and ornaments into a bookshelf.
I began buying brand new books I don’t read. 
It’s not a huge collection but still…
I noticed $1 books I buy from goodwill have a better chance of getting read from cover to cover.
Maybe so but it’s still Disgusting and Despicable!
Now you have inspired me!
Nice collection.
I now have to do something with the coins I’ve, “collected” over the years.
My most cherished coin is Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient:
I’m not fully versed in the complete history of challenge coins, but my understanding is that they were originally created to recognize achievements and promote camaraderie among members. In some traditions, particularly in social settings such as bars, a challenge would be initiated by placing a coin on the table. Anyone unable to present their coin (or the last person to do so) would be responsible for buying a round of drinks.
Perhaps I am misreading some of what is being said in this discussion, but in California stolen valor is a crime under Penal Code 532b which states: (a) A person who fraudulently represents themselves as a veteran or ex-serviceman of a war in which the United States was engaged, in connection with the soliciting of aid or the sale or attempted sale of any property, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Additionally, the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 states the following:
Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:
Thank you for sharing this!
This is a very beautiful collection.
Note the emphasized phrase above. The law was amended to add that provision after the Supreme Court declared the original Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional as a violation of the free speech clause of the First Amendment. It is not a federal crime to falsely claim veteran status or a specific military award. It is a crime to use that claim for tangible benefit.
Hmm, I guess lying to the burger bar to get the veteran discount would qualify, eh?
The distinction lies primarily in how the act is used to communicate intent. An individual who engages in conduct constituting “stolen valor” that is, falsely claiming military service or honors with the intent to obtain something of value such as money, property, or other benefits is committing a crime. However, simply stating that one has served, without intent to defraud or obtain something unlawfully, does not necessarily rise to the level of stolen valor. Likewise, a child who emulates a family member or plays “soldier” would not be guilty of this offense.
I agree with the first part of your statement; however, the latter portion regarding awards raises some questions. Falsely claiming to have received a specific military award or decoration would constitute a violation (at least from what I have read on the federal side of things). The more I explore the topic, the more nuanced it becomes, with numerous examples ranging from individuals dressing in military attire to those wearing unearned medals or insignia.
Delving deeper, under the California Penal Code, there is helpful clarification provided by legal experts who break down the law for better understanding. As it relates to stolen valor, the essential elements align closely with those of theft by false pretenses. In order for prosecutors to secure a conviction, they must prove the following beyond a reasonable doubt:
A false pretense may be established through any of the following:
Lol yes, I think this would most certainly qualify.
Or, get airline priority seating 
We had a guard here at our condo, playing a bad ass. Been here and there, 20 deployments blah blah blah. I finally had enough. One day when he was puffed up like a toad telling us another lie I said “I am a veteran and a black belt, you are neither so quit trying to act like you are…”, he quit that day.
Now, your comment got me wondering so AI to the rescue. What’s significant? How does one start collecting?
Military, presidential, and first responder
challenge coins are among the most popular and highly sought after. Popularity can be subjective and vary based on whether the coin is being collected or is simply an example of a popular design.
Popular coin types
**Presidential challenge coins:**These are rare and highly prized coins, signifying a personal acknowledgment from the highest office in the U.S..
Military challenge coins: As the originators of the tradition, these are the most widespread and recognized type of challenge coin. They feature emblems, insignias, and mottos for specific units, branches, or special forces.
- Popular examples include the Army Ranger, Air Force, Navy, and Medal of Honor coins.
**First responder challenge coins:**These coins honor the service of firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. Firefighter coins are particularly popular, as are coins from specific departments, such as the LAPD SWAT.
Eagle Head challenge coin: A popular design among both military personnel and collectors, this features a distinctive eagle-in-flight motif.
Bottle opener coins: A functional and popular type of challenge coin used as gifts.
Johnny Cash challenge coin: A popular example of a celebrity-themed challenge coin
Not the best photograph, but here is an example of the bottle opener challenge coin I received at a K9 Highway Interdiction training years ago (still afraid to test it out).
Cool 
yeah I understand not testing it out.
Sounds like a FAFO type situation if I’ve ever heard one, and he definitely found out.
Amazing collection!
Thank you!
Very nice collection.
I was really impressed seeing some of those challenge coins a couple years ago and collected about a dozen of them via Amazon and Ebay, direct from Chiwan. I picked up all of our military challenge coins, a couple of police, and a Heads I get tail humorous coin. Gold and silver plated, some enameled details, etc. Beautiful.
