Item number: M507

Year: AD 1981-1983

Material: Nickel Plating Brass

Size: 54.8 x 54.8 x 4.2 mm

Weight: 76.75 g

Provenance: Private Collector, France, 2026

This is a challenge coin presented by General Hwang Yung Si during his tenure as Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army.

The obverse features the emblem of the Republic of Korea Army in the centre, at the middle of which lies the national emblem, composed of a Taegeuk symbol and the petals of a Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon). This is encircled by a laurel wreath tied with a ribbon, with a more realistic hibiscus bloom embellished among the branches on each side. Curving along the upper margin is the Korean inscription “대한민국육군”, meaning “Republic of Korea Army”; along the lower margin runs the English inscription “GEN HWANG YUNG SI, C/S, ROK ARMY”, standing for “General Hwang Yung Si, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Army”. Five-pointed stars are placed on both sides to separate the text fields.

The reverse displays a relief map of the entire Korean Peninsula at its centre, showing the undulating topography and terrain, including Jeju Island as well as eastern islands such as Ulleungdo and Dokdo. The curved line running across the middle of the peninsula alongside the English letters “DMZ” indicates the Demilitarised Zone, while “SEOUL” marks the location of the capital city, Seoul. Along the upper rim is the English inscription “THE FRONTIER OF FREEDOM”, whilst the lower rim bears the official English name of the nation, “REPUBLIC OF KOREA”.

Hwang Yung Si was born in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in AD 1926. He graduated from the 10th class of the Korea Military Academy in AD 1950 and successively served in positions including Chief of Staff of the Capital Security Command, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Military Assistance Group Vietnam, and Superintendent of the 3rd Military Academy. Whilst serving as Commander of the 1st Corps in AD 1979, he took part in the Coup d’état of December Twelfth and subsequently led the armed suppression of the Gwangju Democratisation Movement. He later served as Commander of the Third Army and was appointed as the 24th Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army between AD 1981 and AD 1983. Following his retirement from active service, he assumed office as the 11th and 12th Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection from AD 1984 to AD 1988. In AD 1997, he was convicted for his involvement in the coup d’état and suppression, but was subsequently granted a presidential pardon by President Kim Young-sam. Hwang Yung Si passed away in AD 2022 at the age of 95.

Challenge coins represent a unique tradition originating from the United States Armed Forces. Legend has it that during the First World War, a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Service designed coin-sized medallions for his squad as a form of identification. The lieutenant was subsequently captured by German forces during a mission; although he managed to escape back to Allied lines, he faced execution by the French military due to the loss of his identification documents. At the critical moment, the lieutenant remembered the medallion he carried with him and presented it to the French forces, thereby confirming his identity and sparing him from execution. Thenceforth, the custom of carrying challenge coins spread throughout the US military, although the earliest reliable official records only date back to the Korean War. Nowadays, challenge coins are no longer restricted to the US military and can even be produced by civilian enterprises or social organisations. Driven by advancements in industrial technology, the appearance of challenge coins is no longer confined to traditional circular shapes, but can also be fashioned into irregular geometric designs.

物件編號: M507

年代: 公元 1981-1983 年

材質: 推測為鍍鎳黃銅

尺寸: 54.8 x 54.8 x 4.2 mm

重量: 76.75 g

來源: 法國私人收藏 2026

這是一枚大韓民國陸軍，時任參謀總長的黃永時所贈的挑戰幣。

正面中央為大韓民國陸軍軍徽，軍徽中央為國徽，以太極圖與無窮花（木槿花）花瓣組成。以結繩的月桂葉冠環繞，枝間各綴以一朵較寫實的木槿花。上方環列韓文「대한민국육군」，即「大韓民國陸軍」；下方環列英文「GEN HWANG YUNG SI, C/S, ROK ARMY」，即「大韓民國陸軍參謀總長黃永時上將」。兩側有五角星分隔字段。

背面中央有朝鮮半島的全域浮雕地圖，顯示了地形與山川起伏，包含了濟州島及東側島嶼如鬱陵島、獨島等。穿過半島中央曲線和英文「DMZ」為非軍事區（Demilitarized Zone）的標示線。「SEOUL」則標註了首都首爾的位置。上緣環列英文「THE FRONTIER OF FREEDOM」，或可譯為「自由（之地）的前哨」；下緣環列英文國號「REPUBLIC OF KOREA」，即「大韓民國」。

黃永時（황영시），公元1926年生於慶尚北道榮州市，公元1950年畢業於陸軍士官學校第10期，歷任首都警衛司令部參謀長、駐越韓軍司令部參謀長與陸軍第三軍官學校校長等職，並於公元1979年擔任第1軍軍長期間參與雙十二政變，隨後主導武力鎮壓光州民主化運動，此後歷任第三野戰軍司令，並於公元1981年至1983年間出任第24任大韓民國陸軍參謀總長，退役後於公元1984年至1988年接任第11與12任監查院院長。公元1997年曾因政變與鎮壓等行為被判刑，但總統金泳三給予了特赦。公元2022年，黃永時以95歲高齡離世。

挑戰幣是源自美國軍隊的一項獨特文化，據說第一次世界大戰之際，派往歐洲參戰的美國陸軍航空隊的一名中尉，替小隊設計一枚和硬幣差不多大小的徽章作為標示。後續中尉在一趟任務中遭德軍俘虜，雖然成功逃回盟友的戰線，卻因遺失辨識文件面臨被法軍槍決的命運。千鈞一髮之際，中尉想起他隨身攜帶的徽章並交給法軍，以此辨識出身分讓他逃過槍決的厄運。從此挑戰幣就在美軍內部流傳，即便直到韓戰才有第一筆較確實的官方紀錄。時至今日，挑戰幣不再侷限於美國軍方，甚至民間的企業或社團也能打造。隨著工業技術的演進，挑戰幣的外觀不再只是傳統的圓形，也能做成不規則的幾何圖案。