Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Shield Challenge Coin. This is a great looking Central Intelligence Agency Shield challenge coin. Coin has reeded edges and is about 1 9/16" in diameter. All details are in raised lettering and gold plated. Coin is contained in an acrylic snap tight holder. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is one of the principal Intelligence-gathering agencies of the United States federal government. The CIA's headquarters is in Langly, Virginia, a few miles west of Washington, D.C. Its employees operate from U.S. embassies and many other locations around the world. The only independent U.S. intelligence agency, it reports to the Director of National Intelligence. The CIA has three traditional principal activities, which are gathering information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals; analyzing that information, along with intelligence gathered by other U.S. intelligence agencies, in order to provide national security, intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers and, upon the request of the President of the United States, carrying out or overseeing covert activities and some tactical operations by its own employees, by members of the U.S. military, or by other partners. It can, for example, exert foreign political influence through its tactical divisions, such as the Special Activities Division