Coin must be a Politicoin or a coin earned in service to the United States by the coinholder. If it does not say "POLITICOINS" and "MADE IN USA" on the rim, it is not a Politicoin. Heritage of coins earned through military service must be vouched for by the coinholder. All other coins are not recognized. Producing a not recognized coin is a serious offense.

The coin check consists of a Challenge and a Response. A coin check may occur between two individuals or it may occur between a group. Failure to respond when challenged will incur a penalty. Challenge with caution, however, because the obligation to pay is transferred to the challenger when the challenge is met.

By any means possible or necessary, draw your coin, hold it high, and indicate that you are initiating a challenge by stating, screaming, or shouting "Coin Check!". Those in the vicinity of your verbal onslaught can consider themselves challenged.

When the situation requires a less vocal means, draw your coin and present it in such a manner that it makes an audible sound that can be heard by those being challenged. You can firmly place or slam your coin upon a desk, counter, table, or bar. You might also or otherwise decide to rap your coin against your coffee mug, soda can, milk carton, or beer bottle. Caution: Your Politicoin is tough, so be careful not to break anything or leave a permanent imprint. The subtle challenge is not so subtle when you smash another object with your Politicoin.

There is no such thing as an accidental challenge. If you 'accidentally' drop your coin such that upon impact an audible sound is heard or the drop is observed by another person carrying a Politicoin, you have just initiated a challenge to all those carrying (or known to carry) a Politicoin in the vicinity.