Remembrance coin

A remembrance coin is a memorial object issued by the UNSC Navy to the next of kin following a sailor's death. They are a metallic coin made out of steel or titanium, measuring roughly 50 millimeters in diameter, though they can be found in red, white, and bronze. One side has an engraving of the sailor's face and various details, including their name, date of death, and icon symbolizing their faith (if applicable). The other is more variable, usually having either the emblem of the ship or installation they served on at the time of their death, or a scene depicting their unit's most famous action. Some have a flip-out holographic screen that displays further details on the serviceman, although these tend to be reserved only for captains. The most prized of remembrance coins are those machined from warship hulls, as it usually means that the crew died in successful defense of a colony.

Remembrance coins were first minted in 2527, and quickly replaced the practice of sending patches and letters before the Human-Covenant War. Like with their predecessors, their orders and design are managed by the widows and orphans organizations integrated into most numbered fleets, each with subtly different protocols and decorations. In the rare event that an entire fleet is lost, the Navy or a naval veterans' organization is responsible for their creation. While they are considered important to the families that either have a history of military service, or live on planets with a strong UNSC presence such as Reach, many civilians fail to recognize their significance and quickly discard them.

Notable coins

 * UNSC Pillar of Autumn: The remembrance coins issued to relatives of its crew are unusually ornate. Rather than display the emblem, it has a scene depicting the Autumn 's initial approach to Halo Installation 04, with the cruiser and megastructure painted white and light blue, respectively.
 * UNSC Everest: Made by master metalworkers under a specific contract from the UNSC Navy, the remembrance coins of the Everest are larger than average and are all hand-made works of art. Made out of polished gold, they depict the battlecruiser's final moments before Viperdae's explosion.
 * UNSC Spirit of Fire: The coins are largely made to standard, with the ship's emblem engraved on the front surface. It also has a few etchings of the colonies it helped settle.