Custom Challenge Coins

The challenge coin history dates back to World War I. The soldiers were presented with challenge coins by unit commanders in recognition of special achievements. Please check our dedicated article about the history of challenge coins.

The term "challenge coin" comes from the following tradition. The challenge coin holders would challenge one another to show their coins. This would usually happen at the pub and if the challengee couldn't show the coin, they would have to buy a round of drinks for the challenger and all of their friends at the bar that night.

Custom challenge coins are a great way to commemorate your achievements and milestones in life. Organizations may choose to create custom corporate challenge coins at their meetings or events, while other people might give them out to their loved ones as gifts.

Custom coins are also being utilized by organizations to boost morale, connect individuals with similar interests, and even market their business. Here is a short list of the most popular challenge coin uses:

Firefighter CoinsPolice CoinsMilitary CoinsAir Force CoinsCanadian Armed Forces CoinsCoast Guard CoinsFirst Responders CoinsDog Tags

These custom coins come in many different shapes and sizes, which is one of the things that make them so popular.

Some commemorative coins are round just like regular currency coins, while others are rectangular or custom shaped.

For example, some police departments choose to make their challenge coins in the form of handcuffs, while other departments make them in the form of guns or bullets. Other organizations order custom coins with more practical use - in the form of bottle openers.

The challenge coin size can be as small as a quarter or quite large and heavy, sometimes bigger than the palm of your hand! These metal coins can also vary in thickness, but the standard size is around two to three millimeters.

A custom coin can be created with the design on one side and the information about the recipient on the back. Companies usually put their logos on one side of their corporate coins along with the company's motto or slogan. The other side of the coin can be decorated with the event emblem and some additional company information. Corporate coins are often called business coins.

Now that we know what challenge coins are, let's move on to the whole manufacturing process of customized coins.

It all starts with the creative process of designing the coin. Our customers usually send us draft sketches or just ideas of what they want their coin to look like. After the design is finalized, we create a digital rendering of it that can be used for manufacturing purposes.

Once the design process is finished, the next step is transferring this digital coin design to a pair of coin molds. One mold is made for the front of the coin, and the second for the back of the coin. These molds are often called coin dies and that's where the term "die striking" comes from.

After the coin dies are ready, it's time to start the manufacturing process. The most common metals used for challenge coins are brass, copper, bronze, aluminum, nickel silver, and pewter. Gold and silver can also be used, but they're more expensive and not as commonly used.

The dies are then closed by a huge press, which results in the impression of the coin's design on both sides of the blank. This process gives the minted coins their raised design and texture.

This complicated coin production process proceeds with coin polishing and cleaning. After which they are electroplated. This is mostly a chemical process where the coins are soaked into a solution containing particles of the precious metal. The coins are covered with a thin permanent layer of custom metal plating. The most popular plating options are gold, silver or copper, but there is a variety of other platings such as antique plating or even black plating. In rare cases our client order dual plating and the coins go through the plating process twice.

Finally, after the coins are dry they are ready to be color filled by hand or a special coloring machine. This mostly depends on the number of coins we need to color. We use special syringes filled with soft enamel paint that is filled into the recessed areas of the coin design.

You bet! Challenge coins are a great way to commemorate any occasion, and they make fantastic gifts. It's simple too - all you need is an idea for your challenge coin design. Once you request a quote we will prepare a coin proof. You'll have unlimited revisions of your free artwork until you like the final design. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. The turnaround time is around 14-20 days or fewer.

You're welcome to make as many changes to your coin design as you like. All revisions are completed free of charge.

There are many challenge coin companies there that charge you for coin artwork - but not us. We want our clients to be 100% satisfied with their coins, so we're more than happy to make any changes necessary.

Costs for custom challenge coins vary depending on the size, quantity, and design of the coin. There is no minimum quantity. However, the more your order the less the cost per coin will be.

Strike Your Coins offers some of the most competitive prices in the industry, and we always work to ensure that our clients are happy with their coins.

To order custom coins fill out our free quote form and a representative will be in touch with you shortly.

Selecting high-quality packaging is one approach to maintain the quality and workmanship of your custom challenge coins while also protecting them.

Every order comes with free PVC coin envelopes. They are acid-free, transparent and safe for long-term keeping.

The Coin Capsules are made of hard, clear, and smooth plastic. The cover and base snap together firmly to form a tight seal, which keep the coin safe and easy for viewing.

The presentation box covered with velvet material of your color choice is a great upgrade to the standard packaging.