What Is a Challenge Coin?
We've been in the business of designing and manufacturing custom coins for over 26 years, and the question we get asked more than any other is, "What is a challenge coin?"
A challenge coin is a custom-made coin designed to represent an organization or team. The people in a team are given challenge coins as proof of membership and as a mark of respect and honor. Challenge coins are also made to commemorate special events and to honor important achievements.
Military challenge coins are the most well-known, but there are several different uses for challenge coins. The artwork and design vary depending on the organization ordering the coins and how the coins will be used. Almost all challenge coins, though, include a team emblem or logo.
This is just a brief explanation of what makes a challenge coin. To really understand the answer, you need to dig a little deeper — so we're going to break down everything there is to know about challenge coins, from anatomy to the different types and their meanings. Once we're finished, you'll know exactly what makes a challenge coin a challenge coin.
Custom Challenge Coin Anatomy: What Does a Challenge Coin Look Like?
Traditional challenge coins are round and feature custom artwork of a team's emblem. Some other popular additions are team mottos, important locations, and the dates of special events.
Gold and silver are the most popular metal plating options, but several other finishes are available — including copper, nickel, black metal, and iridescent metal (also called rainbow metal). Soft enamel paint is added to recessed sections of the artwork by hand to recreate emblems and logos.
While this is the traditional anatomy of a challenge coin, there are plenty of custom options available that can result in something that looks remarkably different.
Custom-shaped challenge coins often include functional bottle openers. Bottle opener coins are most popular in the military, but they're also an excellent option for fundraisers and volunteering events.
Combining two or more plating options creates a beautiful contrast in a design. Gold and silver are always a good pair — we also love combining copper and nickel plating.
For the most depth and detail, 3D artwork is your best option. While traditional 3D challenge coins aren't required to feature realistic depth, the 3D approach gives sculpted artwork room to come to life in a way 2D die-striking can't match.
What Does a Challenge Coin Represent?
Challenge coins are designed to represent a team. Coins that include references to important dates, mottos, or emblems are a celebration of team history — and when shared among a group of people, they become a symbol of trust and respect.
If you read through the history of challenge coins, you'll find a number of different stories that shed light on why challenge coins have become so popular and what they've come to represent for different types of teams.
Roman soldiers were believed to carry special "bonus coins" as proof of their courage on the battlefield. The famous story about a World War I lieutenant who made bronze coins for his squadron illustrates how challenge coins are a source of identity — proof that a soldier belongs to a team. During the Korean War, Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Quinn created special coins for his soldiers that celebrated team history, and during the Vietnam War, special unit coins were made to symbolize the camaraderie shared among soldiers during the toughest times.
Today, challenge coins represent all of those things.
What Is the Purpose of a Challenge Coin?
The purpose of many military challenge coins is to build camaraderie, celebrate team history, and honor service. But the purpose of any given challenge coin depends on who is making the coin.
Fortune 500 companies, for example, have custom coins made for branding purposes. Corporate coins are sometimes given to staff members and other times shared with people outside the company for promotional purposes and merchandising.
There are also commemorative challenge coins designed to honor loved ones and the men and women who have died while serving our country or their community. Remembrance challenge coins give families and friends a special token to carry that helps memories of loved ones live on.
Challenge coins are also used to raise money for charity, to commemorate special events, and for all kinds of other reasons.
How Do You Design a Challenge Coin?
Designing a custom challenge coin takes three easy steps:
- Send us your ideas by filling out a free quote form.
- Review your first free proof of artwork and let us know how to refine the design.
- Place your order and we'll deliver your finished coins in 14 days or fewer.
To learn more about the design process and the custom options we offer, check out our challenge coin design 101 guide.
We offer free artwork, unlimited revisions, free priority shipping, and a 100% quality guarantee on every order. Our art team has experience preparing finished artwork for the challenge coin production process and helping our customers come up with artwork from scratch.
It's common for us to create a unique challenge coin design from hand-drawn sketches and bulleted notes. If you're ready to create a coin, reach out today by filling out a free quote form and see how we can bring your vision to life.
