Why I Carry Coins: The Story Behind Gladius Files

For me, carrying tokens and coins has always been deeply personal. It’s not just about metal in the pocket — it’s about memory, meaning, and mindset. Long before I started Gladius Files, I found myself drawn to coins, medallions, and small keepsakes that I could carry every day. I’ve always been fascinated by military challenge coins. For service members, these coins weren’t just keepsakes — they were symbols of belonging, loyalty, and shared experience. That tradition of meaning and connection is something I’ve carried into the design of Gladius Files coins. They were reminders. Anchors. A way of grounding myself when life felt uncertain or overwhelming.

The Fidget Factor

I’ll admit it — I’m a fidgeter. I’ve always needed something in my hands, and for me, a coin was the perfect tool. Unlike plastic gadgets, a coin is timeless, subtle, and endlessly satisfying.

Rolling it across my knuckles, flipping it in my palm, or simply running my thumb along the edge — those little actions became rituals. They helped me stay calm, focused, and present. And the more I carried a coin, the more I realised: it wasn’t just a fidget. It was a reminder of strength, resilience, and purpose.

Why Coins Mean So Much to Me

When I began designing my own Gladius EDC coins, I wanted them to reflect values that meant the most to me. Honour. Strength. Loyalty. These aren’t just words to print on a design they’re guiding principles I try to live by, and ones I believe others connect with too.

That’s why every coin I make carries meaning:

• Coin of Honor — a reminder to live with integrity, even when no one is watching.

• Coin of Strength — symbolized with the lion, a marker of inner courage.

• Coin of Loyalty — because true loyalty is rare, and it deserves to be remembered.

• Spartan Series — a nod to defiance, resilience, and the warrior spirit.

Each design is a reflection of what I value and what I want to be reminded of when I reach into my pocket.

Why I Still Carry One Every Day

For me, coins are both practical and personal. They’re fidget tools, yes, but they’re also talismans. They carry the scratches, dents, and patina of time — just like we do. And that’s what makes them powerful.

When I hand someone a Gladius coin, I’m not just giving them a piece of metal. I’m sharing something that has grounded me, something that has been a personal ritual, and something that carries a legacy of meaning.

The Meaning Behind Gladius Files

The name Gladius comes from the short Roman sword a weapon carried not just by soldiers, but by gladiators who often fought as slaves, striving for freedom and honour in the arena. That story has always resonated with me: the struggle, the resilience, the pursuit of dignity against the odds.

The word Files represents stories, records, and fragments of meaning — the little pieces we collect and carry. For me, Gladius Files is about capturing these values and stories, turning them into something tangible you can hold in your hand, carry in your pocket, and reflect on every day.

It’s not just about coins. It’s about virtue. About freedom. About the ongoing fight to live with purpose.

Final Thoughts

Gladius Files was born from this belief: what you carry matters. Not just for function, but for meaning. Coins are the quiet part of your EDC — the part nobody else sees, but you always feel. For me, carrying a coin is carrying a story. And through Gladius Files, I get to share those stories with others.

Raff.