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American Legion Challenge Coins

Founded in 1919, the American Legion has grown into a 2-million-member organization with more than 13,000 posts worldwide. Custom American Legion challenge coins are designed to capture the character of individual posts and departments — through artwork, emblems, and slogans tailored to each group’s mission. Whether you’re commemorating a Legion-sponsored event, recognizing a veteran’s service, or building support for a community program, we’ll help you design a coin that does the work justice.

American Legion Challenge Coins

American Legion challenge coins collage

Raising Awareness and Building Support

The American Legion is the largest wartime veteran service organization in the United States. As a non-profit, the Legion relies on donations and volunteer efforts to raise awareness for veteran affairs and services. The central mission of the organization is to mentor the youth of America, be an advocate for patriotism and honor, promote strong national security, and devote time and effort to active service members and veterans.

American Legion challenge coins are designed to incorporate artwork detailing individual legion teams, programs, and sponsored events. Some American Legion challenge coins are used as promotional tools to raise awareness for the organization and its mission. Others are handed out to commemorate American Legion sponsored events and drive home the lessons of patriotism and honor that the organization champions.

American Legion challenge coins personify the character of the organization and its many services and programs. Veterans and volunteers carry custom challenge coins as a source of inspiration and pride. When handed out at sponsorship events, American Legion challenge coins are a tangible reminder of hope, support, and patriotism.

Veteran challenge coins honor the selfless and indispensable service of our Nation’s heroes. By crafting a unique set of veteran challenge coins and handing them out, groups of retired military members are reminded that their efforts have not been forgotten. The coins are a symbol of their courage and incredible service to our Nation and to the world!

Get started with your set today by filling out one of our order forms! Our team of designers will take your ideas to heart and create something entirely original for you. On every order we include:

  • Free artwork
  • Free quotes
  • Free unlimited revisions on design
  • Free UPS Air shipping
  • 14 business day delivery on completed orders
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee

Once an order form is submitted, our team will have a free quote and a free proof of artwork ready within 24 to 48 hours.

History Of The American Legion And Of Military Challenge Coins

Challenge coins have been a popular tradition within the United States Military since as early as World War I. The use of challenge coins, however, has roots much farther back in history. It is believed that in ancient Rome, Legion soldiers were awarded an extra coin of payment on top of the week’s pay when they displayed courage in battle. Commanding officers would have the coins minted with emblems of the Legion. The intricate design became synonymous as a symbol of the bonus coin soldiers could earn through excellent service and courageous acts in combat.

Instead of spending them, soldiers began to keep the Legion coins as a mark of distinction among the ranks. The coins marked them above the rest through incredible service and soldiers would carry them as symbols of pride and honor. Today, American Legion challenge coins are used in the same light.

Since its establishment in 1919, the organization has made strides to become one of the most influential veteran organizations in history. Starting as a small group of World War I veterans promoting support for veterans and service members, the American Legion has since grown into an international organization of over 2 million members and 55 departments worldwide. There is a department for each of the 50 states in America, and one each in France, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Philippines, and the District of Columbia. Worldwide, there are over 13,000 posts run by volunteers promoting social change and veteran affairs.

Custom American Legion challenge coins are unique to each department and outpost in the organization. Designs allude to individual teams and departments by incorporating unique designations, locational artwork, and team emblems. They are symbols of the efforts of each team within the Legion and represent their victories and future goals.

Get started with your set of American Legion challenge coins today!

American Legion emblem banner

Emblem Of The American Legion — Representing Values And Goals

Custom American Legion challenge coins are the personification of organizational values and missions. Custom artwork touches members on a personal level by referencing the storied histories of our Nation’s veterans and the amazing feats they have achieved. Just like the emblem of the American Legion, challenge coins elicit a strong feeling of purpose, of pride, and of honor!

The emblem of the American Legion is made up of six parts, each with a specific meaning:

  • The rays of the sun — A reference to the Legion’s efforts to vanquish the darkness of evil and violence
  • The wreath — Remembrance of the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our Nation.
  • The star — The symbol of victory in World War I symbolizing the origins of the organization and the Legion’s determination to win every fight.
  • Outer rings — Representation of the aims to rehabilitate the sick and disabled veterans of America (larger ring) and promote the welfare of the children of our nation (smaller ring).
  • Inner rings — Representation of the organization’s dedication to Americanism (larger ring) and service to the community, state, and nation (smaller ring).
  • “American Legion” — The words emblazoned around the center of the emblem tie all of these values and missions together: truth, remembrance, constancy, honor, service, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, children and youth, loyalty, and Americanism.

American Legion challenge coins are conceived and carefully crafted with the same attention to detail as the American Legion Emblem. Our clients’ inspirations for custom design are brought to life by our team of experienced designers. Follow one of the links below to get started!

Advocates For Change — American Legion Programs and Services

The American Legion has a diverse set of services and programs for families, youth, communities, veterans, and national affairs. Veteran members of the American Legion have access to a benefits center with programs involving health, education, careers, family support, and troop support. The Legion has championed social change of considerable benefit to veterans over the years and created programs for children and youth all over the Nation.

Some of the famous programs that are run by the American Legion include:

  • Operation Comfort Warrior — A program that raises money and supplies comfort items not usually provided by the government for injured, ill, and disabled veterans.
  • Youth Cadet Law Enforcement — Programs designed to instill pride in country and respect for local law enforcement. Cadets gain hands-on experience and learn valuable lessons for life through the program.
  • American Legion Baseball — A national baseball program centered on the ideals of sportsmanship, good health, and active citizenship. The American Legion designed the program to prepare young men to enter the world with core values like integrity, leadership, and humility.

American Legion challenge coins are made for these and many other programs within the organization. They reinforce the lessons the American Legion preaches and act as symbols of patriotism and honor.

Signature Coins — The Premier Source For Veteran Challenge Coins

Signature Coins has more than two decades of experience designing and producing custom challenge coins for a diverse set of organizations. We’ve worked with every branch of the United States Military, veteran organizations, local law enforcement all over the nation, and high-profile corporations including Coca-Cola, Amazon, and NASA.

Our team is committed to providing the highest quality challenge coins on the market and the industry standard in customer service. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us. One of our friendly specialists would be happy to help you through the whole ordering process.

We have created a simple 3 step system that starts our clients with getting free artwork and ends with them holding custom coins in hand. Just follow these steps to get started!

  • First, fill out an order form. We will have your free proof ready within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Second, let us know what changes you would like in coin design and artwork.
  • Third, finalize your order! Our team will provide tracking numbers and updates through the production cycle.

Thank you for choosing Signature Coins as your partner in creating custom American Legion challenge coins! We’re excited to get started.

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Custom Coin Customer Reviews

Custom Challenge Coin Pricing

Color on Both Sides

(Up to 7 Colors per Side)
Size 50
1.5" $6.03

Color on One Side

(Up to 7 Colors)
Size 50
1.5" $6.03

No Color

(Metal Only)
Size 50
1.5" $6.03

Mold Setup Fees

Molds are FREE on all orders over 300 pieces
(on coins up to 2.5")
Size 50
1.5" $6.03

Custom Challenge Coin Edge Options

Standard Flat Edge
Price: per coin
Rope Edge
Price: per coin
Spur Edge
Price: per coin
Flat Weave Bevel Edge
Price: per coin
Oblique Edge
Price: per coin
Cross Cut Edge
Price: per coin

Custom Challenge Coin Plating Options

Antique Gold
Price: per coin
Antique Silver
Price: per coin
Antique Copper
Price: per coin
High-Polish Gold
Price: per coin
High-Polish Silver
Price: per coin
Dual-Plating
Price: per side per coin

Additional Challenge Coin Options

Spinner Challenge Coins
Interactive coins where part of the coin is designed to spin or rotate freely.
Pricing depends on size and complexity
Challenge Coin Cut Outs
Not only can the outer shape of the coin be customized, but the interior areas can be “cut out” as well
Price: per cut out
3D Challenge Coins
3D coins have an unlimited number of sculpted levels. We can round edges and create smooth gradations.
Price:
Sequential Numbering
The perfect option for anyone looking for trackable coins or just a fun way to make every coin a little more special.
Price: per coin
Glow in the Dark
Choosing from our selection of glow enamels ensures your design will continue to shine even when the lights go out.
Price: per coin
Edge Engraving
Not only can you design the front and back of your coins, but the true edge can be engraved with messages as well.
Price: per coin

Common Challenge Coin Questions

A challenge coin is usually a metal coin or medallion, bearing an organization's insignia, emblem or logo and carried by the organization's members. Traditionally, challenge coins were used by the military and displayed by service men and women to prove exclusive membership when challenged, and to enhance the military units' morale.

Historically, challenge coins were awarded by military unit commanders in recognition of special achievement made by a member of the unit. They are also known to be exchanged and traded during recognition visits to different international organizations, bases and service tours. These coins have been heavily collected by active and retired service members and law enforcement personnel for years.

Modern challenge coins are made in a variety of sizes and often include popular culture references such as superheroes as well as known characters in a parody. Many companies today are using them to build morale in teams, link people with similar interests and even to promote their brand. Challenge coin designs today are pushing the boundary of what a challenge coin could mean or be used for. One thing is for sure, personalized coins further strengthen the sense of bond within people that both give and receive them.

Challenge coins are often used as a physical token or symbol to represent membership to an organization, unit, or team.

Challenge coins also serve as a lasting personal award for anyone that has received one. Since they are custom and long lasting, challenge coins serve well to commemorate the time and experience put in to overcome overwhelming obstacles or the extraordinary effort and sacrifice needed to reach a given achievement. These keepsake coins become a life long reminder of the achievements made.

Our bravest first responder services also have a history of using challenge coins. Whether for fire departments, emergency medical technicians or law enforcement officers, challenge coins have been used to award bravery, acts of heroism and department camaraderie.

Many companies today have been started by veterans, or are veteran owned and are beginning to use the challenge coin tradition to help represent accomplishments in their businesses. This modern approach to awarding challenge coins has garnered some criticism from the traditionalists. Signature Coins has been making challenge coins for 20 plus years, and we see more and more companies joining in on awarding custom challenge coins to customers, staff, and volunteers. They are using them to build morale in teams, link people with similar interests and even to promote their brand or charities.

Generally speaking you give someone a challenge coin when you want to honor them for a good deed or for their hard work.

Challenge coins still play a major role in the military today, much like a "Thank you Plus" or "Great Job Plus". In the armed forces not every action rates an honorable medal or certificate, for those moments when someone is deserving of more than a thank you, awarding them with a challenge coin fills the gap.

As a very simple miltary example. You're out on a 3 day field op. One of your guys or gals busts their butt during a particularly stressful couple hours of it. Shows great attitude, effort, and was overal top notch. If you tried to write it up, it wouldn't "quite" be "award worthy" but definitely deserved "recognition."

Now even if you're not a veteran or a member of the armed forces, you can still recognize and award someone with custom challenge coins.

You can use challenge coins to reward employees after the completion of a special project or if huge accomplishments have been made company wide. The coin design can be representative of the achievement, the employee or the company goals. Studies show when employees are recognized for a job well done, they feel more satisfied with their job performance, are more likely to reach for higher goals, and are more loyal to their organizations.

Finding the right time and place to give someone a challenge coin can be, well, a bit challenging.

  • Military tradition has a few ways of approaching this honor. One being "The Secret Handshake" where commanding officers, department officials or the president himself would shake a soldiers hand and "slip" them the coin via the handshake. Transferring the coin shouldn't be dramatic or obvious, like a quiet wink and a nod, this honor is more personal to the people giving and receieving the award and less ceremonial. Although a bit more obvious, another military tradition is to hand them out in front of a formation or during a meeting, but it's more commonly done one on one.

  • As more civilians and businesses use challenge coins, they have taken a more ceremonious and inclusive approach to awarding them. When looking to give a challenge coin to an employee or team member most businesses will do it during a team meeting. Some businesses have even integrated their employee award recognition into their annual and quarterly ceremonies. Awarding their employees in front of others can be a great way to show the rest of the team that you too can be "recognized" if the effort is there.

  • Modern marketers are also finding that custom challenge coins make for great business cards, so many high end service providers, such as lawyers, accountants and commercial developers are now giving their custom coins out as a means of promoting themselves or their business offerings.

Challenge coins typically cost $3.00 -$5.00 per coin for a full production run of 100 coins generally speaking.

More specifically though, it depends. Challenge coin pricing is dependent on a variety of factors including size, quantity, and coloration. Your organization's insignia or logo, as well as the brand standards surrounding it, will often dictate coloration. The level of complexity, industry standards, and personal preference will dictate the size of the coin.

You can view our challenge coin pricing here.

Designing challenge coins is a lot of fun, but there's also a ton of things to think about before getting started. Luckily, we have years of experience making custom coins, and we're happy to help you every step of the way.

We have put together a how-to guide that will tell you everything you need to know about challenge coin design.

Challenge Coin Design 101: A How-To Guide For Creating Challenge Coins