Given through a covert handshake, challenge coins represent great respect in the military.

What started as a hobby for John Rolaf, retired master gunnery sergeant and now a civilian lieutenant with the Provost Marshal’s Office, has turned into a collection of over 600 challenge coins.

Challenge coins are given to symbolize great appreciation, honor, or allegiance.

In 1998, Rolaf started to collect the coins while working as a staff sergeant for the Marine Helicopter Squadron One at Anacostia alert facility.

At the time, Rolaf was not familiar with challenge coins, but his interests peaked when Master Gunnery Sgt. Mike Lapp, former security chief for HMX-1, gave him a few dozen.

“It just kind of evolved over time. I’ve had people give me coins, I’ve found coins, I’ve bought coins, I’ve traded coins, been presented coins. You name it. Anyway you can get a coin, I’ve gotten a coin,” said Rolaf. 

His coins come in all shapes, sizes, colors and detail.

Out of his entire collection, eight coins remain more significant to him than others.

Rolaf pointed out a gold coin bearing the master gunnery sergeant insignia.

“I had my own coin made when I picked up master gunny to give something other than a business card,” Rolaf said. “I gave them out to deserving people or as something I wanted people to remember me by.”

A coin with the devil dogs symbol on it, represents a coin his brother, Eric, gave to him while serving as commanding officer of the Marine Corps Network Operations and Security Command.

His brother also gave him two Code Talker’s Hall coins, one in 2006, the year the building was supposed to open and one in 2007 when the new building actually opened. “It’s kind of an inside joke between us,” Rolaf said.

A coin that bears the year, 1775, references the Marine Corps Marathon Run at Prince William County Forest Park, known as the 17.75K.

“Two years ago was the first time my brothers [Eric and Andre] and I, ran together since high school. It had been 35 years,” he said.

He also holds a WWII Raiders coin from a reunion at Quantico.

Over 27 years in the Marines and now at his position at the PMO, Rolaf continues to collect coins.

One of his most memorable and most recent coins he received was the wounded warrior coin, which he received in passing from Sgt. Maj. Michael Mack, at the Wounded Warrior Regiment, after he ran security for the Warrior Games at Quantico this June.

One of Rolaf’s more interesting stories includes giving President George Bush one of his personal coins at HMX-1. 

At one time, Rolaf had his entire collection on display in his office, but he always carried his “luckiest” coin in his pocket.

“I’m not superstitious, but there is a coin I carried for years – the Saint Michael coin for police officers,” said Rolaf.

The one coin he wishes to gain?

“I’m pretty satisfied with where I am. If the president came by and was giving out coins, I would like to have one of those,” said Rolaf.

— Writer: cbrown@quanticosentryonline.com