Joe Biden Gives The Currency Mother Of Marine Coin In Viral Video

Command coins—pocket-size medallions—are a military tradition and given to service members as a mark of allegiance and a reward for performance. Each coin carries symbols and mottos referring to the unit, service branch or office the servicemember belongs to.

They are a source of pride for troops, and high-ranking officers and veterans will often display their collection of coins as a mark of pride and experience.

Presidents, vice presidents, and other top officials have their own coins that they hand out to service members. The coin Biden gave to the Marine’s mother in the Lincoln Project video is presumably one of his own custom coins.

The command coin was never officially sanctioned, so there are multiple theories as to how they became a part of military tradition, The New York Times reported. One story is that a commander gave matching bronze coins to his unit before they were deployed in World War One.

One American pilot was later captured by German forces but escaped to a French outpost. Thinking he was a German spy, the French troops almost shot him. But the airman was able to prove his allegiance—and save his life—by showing them the bronze coin around his neck.

Another theory is that command coins were used to gain entry into an infantry-run bar in Vietnam, as proof that would-be drinkers belonged to infantry units. Enemy bullets could also be used to gain entry in lieu of a coin, the Times said.