Top 11 Challenge Coin Designs Ideas [With Examples]

We've all heard the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Whether it's a sharp outfit or a warm smile, those first few moments often determine whether you're remembered or forgotten.

The same rule applies to challenge coins. Your coin has just a few seconds to make a memorable impact through its design.

But how can you make sure that this impression is positive? That people connect with the coin and the organisation or the event it represents?

That's where we at Badges and Medals come in. We've perfected the art of unique and memorable designs, having helped thousands of organisations create custom challenge coins.

In this article, we've put together some of our favourite design ideas over the years to show you unique ways that you can make your challenge coins impress recipients. Some, we even designed ourselves!

Let's dive in and find your next brilliant challenge coin design.

Most Inspiring Challenge Coin Design Ideas

1. Picking a unique colour, as shown by the New Zealand Intelligence Service

Why limit yourself to a traditional gold or silver challenge coin when there's a whole spectrum of colours to explore? Choosing a unique colour for your challenge coin is an effective way to make it stand out. 

Take the New Zealand Intelligence Service's challenge coin, for example. They opted for a striking black base colour and enhanced it with white enamel. This contrast made the black more vivid and created a visually stunning effect. The result was a memorable set of challenge coins which stuck in people’s minds. After all, it's not every day you see one in this colour!

Designed by: Badges And Medals

2. Including moving parts, as shown by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

Moving parts transform a static challenge coin into a playful, interactive experience. They can come in many varieties, such as parts that rotate, slide, dangle, or swivel. 

For instance, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution had a challenge coin that has multiple spinning rings. This design not only captivates and surprises those who receive it but also encourages them to interact with the coin. This ensures that the coin isn't just kept in a drawer but is shown off and enjoyed.

Designed by: Ranger Coin

3. Adding texture, as shown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Avionics Squadron

When in doubt, add texture! Textures are an excellent way to bring interest to your challenge coin. It comes in many forms, such as crosshatching or sandblasting, and can be added to the coin's face and border. 

Take, for instance, the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Avionics Squadron challenge coin. One side has a sandblasted background, which gives it a matte, slightly grainy texture. When light strikes the coin, the background sparkles like tiny crystals, making the coin more interesting and memorable. The textured background also helps the aeroplanes in the logo stand out more clearly than if the background were left smooth. This draws your eye to the logo.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

4. Picking a unique shape, as shown by the New Zealand Defence Force

Most challenge coins are round. Bucking this trend by choosing something completely different can make your challenge coin stand out from the crowd. Take the 2nd New Zealand Military Intelligence Company challenge coin, for example, which is triangular. This clever design choice catches your eye and draws it to the logo at the centre - something that might not have happened as well if the Defence Force had gone with a more traditional shape.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

5. Engraving the edges, as shown by Spectrum.

Engraving the edge of a challenge coin is a clever and subtle way to make each award one-of-a-kind. You can engrave whatever you fancy, with the most common choice being the recipient's name or squadron number. In doing so, you create a personal connection between the recipient and their challenge coin and make them feel valued. 

For instance, Spectrum engraved ‘A F U # K’ on the edges of their challenge coins. The company said it was an inside joke which essentially meant it valued its people’s opinions.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

6. Adding a bottle opener, as shown by Badges And Medals

Typically, what's the first thing people do after receiving a challenge coin? Grab a drink to celebrate, of course! And what better way to open that drink than with the challenge coin they just received? Adding a bottle opener into the design of a challenge coin adds a layer of functionality that its recipient truly appreciates. 

For instance, at Badges And Medals, we designed a challenge coin for the NAUMD convention that included a clever cut-out in the centre that functioned as a bottle opener. Visitors to our booth loved using their new challenge coins to pop open a soda. This added functionality not only made the coin more interactive but also left a lasting impression, enhancing its value and memorability among the recipients.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

7. Pick glow-in-the-dark colours, as shown by the US Air Force Diagnostic Imaging team

Using glow-in-the-dark colours adds a real 'wow' factor to your challenge coin, especially if you’re awarding them at night. Take the US Air Force Diagnostic Imaging teams' challenge coin, for example. During the day, the skull on the coin is vibrant and eye-catching. But in the dark, it glows from within, echoing the Diagnostic Imaging team's work with X-rays and bringing a playful yet meaningful twist to the design. It’s unexpected elements like this that turn a simple challenge coin into something people talk about and treasure.

Designed by: Signature Coins

8. Including unique materials, as shown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force

Adding materials such as shells, stones or precious metals to challenge coins not only makes them more striking but adds a bit of luxury. Take the Royal New Zealand Air Force, for example. They included shells in their challenge coin design, a clever nod to New Zealand's rich coastal heritage.

This shell comes from a sea snail called abalone, ormer, or pāua, depending on where you live. Incorporating it into the design brings a local flavour to the coin. It’s also a visual treat. The shell's vibrant colours shift and shimmer under different lights, immediately drawing the eye and making the coin stand out. Plus, each shell's natural pattern is unique, ensuring no two coins are exactly alike, which makes recipients feel valued.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

9. Adding a 3D effect, as shown by the Christchurch Antarctic Office

Three-dimensional (3D) elements truly bring challenge coins to life in a way that flat coins just can’t match. For instance, the Christchurch Antarctic Office made the explorer on their challenge coin 3D, which popped out - literally! - when the light hits it. But the 3D feature isn’t just about looks; it also adds a fun, tactile element. Recipients got to feel the coin, not just see it, which created a more engaging and memorable interaction.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

10. Presenting it in a custom box, as shown by Eketāhuna

Imagine putting in all the time and effort to create a stunning challenge coin, only to have it end up inside an unexciting display case. That’s the reality most people face, as most challenge coins come in a simple plastic sleeve or capsule. While this might protect the coin, it’s far from memorable. But what if you could change that? 

Enter the custom box. These can be as thoughtfully designed as the challenge coin themselves. Take, for example, the New Zealand town of Eketāhuna, which celebrated 150 years of European settlement by presenting challenge coins in recyclable cardboard boxes, complete with custom writing embossed on the cover. This approach drove home how special and unique the challenge coin was, enhancing its value.

Designed by: Badges And Medals

11. Including a cut-out, as shown by the Australian Defence Force

A cut-out is a design feature where parts of the challenge coin are removed to create negative space. It can add a deeper meaning to your challenge coin by suggesting that your organisation is transparent (because your coin is see-through) or independent (because your logo is unattached). However, it's often used to add depth or highlight parts of a challenge coin's design. 

Take the Australian Defence Force’s 'Command Warrant Officer' challenge coin, for example. They cleverly used a cut-out around their emblem to make it look like the kangaroo is jumping right out at you. This made the coin very easy to remember.

Designed by: Badges And Medals  

How much do these design ideas cost?

There you have it! We at Badges And Medals have shown you that designing a unique and memorable challenge coin is well within your grasp. We've used each of these methods to help thousands of customers create unforgettable challenge coin designs.

With your creative juices flowing, it's natural to start thinking about the next steps. If you're curious about the costs involved, check out our article, 'How Much Do Custom Challenge Coins Cost?' to understand how each design feature will impact your budget.