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V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE BORDER PATROL "WHIPPING' CHALLENGE COINSContinuing with the theme of controversial challenge coins, earlier this week CNN published an article about a challenge coin with an image based on the controversial photo of a Border Patrol agent "whipping" a migrant near the Texas border. -Editor 
An unofficial challenge coin depicting the infamous image of an agent on horseback confronting a Haitian migrant is being investigated by US Customs and Border Protection's Office of Professional Responsibility, according to agency spokesperson Luis Miranda. The coin, which was on sale on eBay, is inscribed with phrases, like "You will be returned" and "Reining it in since May 28, 1924." It's unclear where the coin originated. "The images depicted on this coin are offensive, insensitive, and run counter to the core values of CBP. This is not an official CBP coin," Miranda said in a statement. Challenge coins are historically collectable pieces of recognition that originated in the military but have become more popular with civilian agencies. They are often used to trade and given as tokens of gratitude.
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National Public Radio published images of the piece. -Editor 
A Utah man has found himself in the middle of a controversy this week over a set of challenge coins he sold on eBay featuring a shocking image. The coins depict the now-infamous, real-life image of a Border Patrol agent chasing down Haitian migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border last September. Unless he hears otherwise from authorities, the seller, Andy Christiansen, told NPR that he still has about 20 coins left and intends on putting them up for sale again. "It's strictly a business for me," he told NPR over the phone. And it's apparently a popular one at that. Once the eBay listing of this particular coin made its rounds, Christiansen said, it was "flying off the shelf" at one point. Interest was big enough to inflate the cost of one coin to nearly $500. CBP had indicated this week that it was investigating the origin of the coins. So following those statements, Christiansen took the eBay posting down for the time being. But as of Friday afternoon, he told NPR, he had yet to hear anything from any investigators. He's planning on reselling the 20 or so coins he has left unless he hears from CBP or other authorities. A challenge coin is a type of small medallion that bears an organization's or group's insignia, and it's usually carried by its members. Members of the military often have these coins. Christiansen said he is not the manufacturer of these coins; the person or business that ordered or manufactured these coins is still a mystery. He runs a business in Utah that buys at auction items that were lost or damaged during shipping by FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service. That's how he came into possession of the coins — mixed in a box with other challenge coins, Christiansen said. He said he was unaware of the meaning of what was depicted on the coins. Subject matter notwithstanding, the quality of workmanship on these pieces is very good - those are nicely done images in high relief. -Editor
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The New York Post pictured a different example of much lower quality - there are more than one design out there. -Editor 
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Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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