Ever come across a challenge coin and thought, "What exactly is this thing?"
Maybe you've seen them on a family member's shelf, heard someone mention them in passing, or stumbled across them while searching for awards. Now you're wondering what the 'challenge' part of their name means and whether you should get one too.
That's where we at Badges And Medals can help. We've made thousands of challenge coins for militaries, businesses, and everything in between. We know what makes a challenge coin special and why they're valued, and want to share this knowledge with you.
By the end of this article, you will know:
- What a challenge coin is.
- What you need to order a challenge coin.
- How long it takes to make a challenge coin
- Whether challenge coins can be customised.
- How much challenge coins cost.
- The advantages of challenge coins.
- The disadvantages of challenge coins.
Or just click on a link above to skip directly to your question!
What are challenge coins?
A challenge coin is an award that looks like a coin, only bigger and thicker. Both sides are usually decorated with artwork, the most popular being the logo or slogan of a specific group or organisation.
While their exact origin is unclear, one thing is certain: they have a long history with the military.
Some say challenge coins date back to Ancient Rome, where soldiers received minted coins for significant achievements. Others believe their origin is linked to World War I after a wealthy American officer commissioned coin-like tokens for his unit, each bearing the squadron’s emblem.
The World War I coins became legendary after one saved the life of a captured soldier. Because he did not have personal identification, the man used his coin to prove to the French that he was not an enemy spy. They recognised the emblem on the coin and, as a result, did not execute him as planned. After hearing his story, it became a tradition in the squadron for members to carry a challenge coin.
CREDIT: FORUMANCIENTCOINS.COM
Since then, challenge coins have become very popular in and out of the military.
Their big appeal lies in how customisable they are: you can change their size, thickness, shape, colour - anything! This makes them perfect for any occasion, though they are mainly used to recognise people's achievements.
Now here's where it gets interesting - the "challenge" part of the name!
It turns out challenge coins can be used as a game. The rules are that if a coin holder challenges (hence the name) another to produce their coin and they can't, tradition says they owe a small favour. This game adds a fun twist to these awards and encourages people to keep their coins on them.
What do you need to create a challenge coin?
Absolutely nothing! However, it does help the challenge coin designer if you have a design in mind or, failing that, a high-resolution version of your organisation's logo, plus samples of its colours.
How long does it take to make a challenge coin?
Getting the coin's design right usually takes around one to two days. Once that's signed off, it takes just over three weeks for the challenge coins to be made. Large orders can take an extra week.
To help you pinpoint the best time to order your challenge coins without any guesswork, we've developed a special calculator. Just enter your event date, and you will have your best order date within a minute.
Can you customise a challenge coin?
Absolutely, you can customise a challenge coin!
In fact, every challenge coin is essentially a custom creation because the choices you make during the design process ensure that your coin is always one-of-a-kind. These are the design elements most suppliers will allow you to customise:
- Material. Zinc alloy is the most popular coin material, followed by brass, which is heavier.
- Colour. Popular colours include gold or silver, but some choose white or black.
- Size. Most challenge coins are 50mm wide, but you can go bigger or smaller.
- Shape. Circles are the most popular coin shape, but other shapes are available too.
- Thickness. Typically, coins are 6mm thick, but you can pick thinner or thicker options.
- Finish. You can choose an antique finish for a 'rustic' look or a shiny finish for a 'flashy' look.
- Design. Add elements that best represent your organisation, like your logo or slogan.
There are nine other ways you can customise your challenge coin, but these are not included in the standard design process, so check with your manufacturer to see if they can do them for you:
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What is it? |
How long does it take? |
What does it cost? |
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Personalised engraving |
Words can be engraved onto a challenge coin's edge or face using a laser. This creates a unique connection between the recipient and their coin. You can engrave whatever you fancy, with the most common choice being the recipient's name or unit number. |
Engraving each challenge coin will push your order's finish date out by one to two days. |
It typically costs about US$0.30 more per challenge coin to engrave the coin's face and US$0.40 to engrave the coin's edge. Some manufacturer's will also charge a setup fee to cover the cost of preparing their engraver. At Badges And Medals, however, we don't charge for the engraving of challenge coins, as long as we're told before the coins are made. |
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Unique materials |
One of the most visually striking ways to customise challenge coins is to add unique materials to your design. For example, you could make part of your logo out of seashell or plastic "metal" sheets. This adds a sense of luxury. |
Attaching unique materials can be finicky work, adding up to two to three days to your challenge coin order. |
The cost of customising your coins in this way depends on what unique material you choose. At Badges And Medals, for example, we would charge US$0.40 cents more for challenge coins with seashells on one face. |
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Moving parts |
This includes any part of a challenge coin that can rotate, slide, dangle, or swivel. Moving parts turn challenge coins into a playful, interactive experience. |
Adding moving parts can extend the order time by up to three weeks. This is because the moving parts are often made separately and then assembled with the coin. |
Moving parts typically add at least $0.80 per coin, though the price can vary greatly depending on the specific parts used. |
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Unique colours |
Unique challenge coin colours are anything outside the traditional gold, silver, or bronze. Popular alternatives include white or black. |
Picking a unique colour does not add extra time to your order. They take the same amount of time to apply as the usual gold, silver, or bronze. |
Nothing! Unique colours cost the same as traditional gold, silver, or bronze colours. |
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Three-dimensional (3D) parts |
When something is 3D, it has depth, width, and height. In other words, it's not flat. Adding 3D elements to a challenge coin makes it more eye-catching. |
Adding 3D elements to your challenge coin will push your finish date out by two to three days. Suppliers use this time to check the 3D parts look right. |
Typically, adding 3D elements increases the cost by about $0.30 per coin. This is because 3D areas require more metal, which adds to the overall material cost. |
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Edge design |
You can customise your challenge coin's edge with special patterns to make it stand out more. Think of it like a fancy border on a picture frame. These designs can range from subtle to flashy. |
Picking a custom edge design won't add time to your order. The edge design you choose is built into your mould, and most moulds take the same amount of time to make. |
It depends on the edge you choose. Most edges come at no extra cost, but some of the more intricate designs might add around $0.10 per coin. |
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Texture |
Textures are an excellent way to bring interest to your challenge coin. They come in many forms, such as crosshatching or sandblasting, and can be added to the coin's face or border. |
Adding textures to your challenge coin won't add time to your order. Textures are made using your coin's mould, and almost all moulds take the same amount of time to make. |
Most textures don’t cost extra because they’re added during the mould-making process. The cost of the mould remains the same, regardless of the texture. |
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Cut out |
A cut out is a design feature where parts of the challenge are removed to create negative space. It's often used to add depth or highlight certain elements of the coin's design. |
Including cut-outs usually adds just a day to your order because the cut-out is added directly to the coin's mould. |
Adding cut outs to your challenge coin can decrease its cost, but by how much depends on the amount of area you want removed. The reason it saves you money is because your supplier doesn't need to use as much metal to make the coin. |
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Glow-in-the-dark colours |
Glow-in-the-dark colours do exactly what their name suggests: shine in the dark. They make your challenge coin more interesting and memorable, especially if the coins are awarded at night. |
Glow-in-the-dark colours do not add extra time to your order. They take the same amount of time to apply as normal colours. |
Nothing! Glow-in-the-dark colours cost the same as normal colours. |
How much do challenge coins cost?
There are a few factors that play into the cost of challenge coins:
- The level of customisation
- The number of coins you order
Ordering in bulk is cheaper per coin than ordering smaller quantities. It's like buying in bulk at the grocery store. Larger orders let suppliers use their resources more efficiently and reduce costs like rent and salaries, which they pass onto you.
For example, if you want to buy 100 standard-sized challenge coins with no add-ons, it would cost you $6.75 per coin. However, if you up the quantity to 500 coins, it would cost you $3.87 per coin. These prices are before adding shipping, the supplier's setup fee, and goods and services tax.
- The supplier's setup fee
Read our blog post 'How Much Do Custom Challenge Coins Cost' for more in-depth information.
Do challenge coins come with boxes?
No, but they can.
Most challenge coins come in a simple plastic sleeve or capsule. While this does protect the coin, it’s not particularly memorable.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more flair, you can ask your supplier to place them in velvet, vegan leather, or cardboard boxes. These add a luxurious touch and cost between US$6 and US$10.80 per box for a set of ten. Velvet and vegan leather boxes are the more popular box types because they come with a satin-lined lid and a velvet base, making your coins look more elegant.
Some suppliers, like us at Badges And Medals, will customise your box for free to help your coin stand out. This means you can add personal touches like your logo to the top of the box or change the box’s colour.
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An example of a custom challenge coin box, made for the Auckland Fire Brigade.
What are the advantages of challenge coins?
- They're durable enough to last several lifetimes.
- You can customise them in almost any way you want.
- They're very good at making people feel like they're part of a team.
- They're easy to carry - most challenge coins will fit in your wallet!
- They're used by several fields, like militaries, businesses, and events, unlike sports medals, which are usually limited to athletic competitions. In other words, they're universally popular.
- They hold a lot of sentimental and historical value. Because of this, some are worth money.
What are the disadvantages of challenge coins?
- You can't wear them.
- They're more expensive than other awards.
- They take longer to make than most other awards.
- Due to their small size, they're easier than other awards to lose.
- The tradition of challenging others to show their coin can lead to awkward situations.
How do you order challenge coins?
At Badges And Medals, we believe that knowledge is power, and it helps you make the best choices.
With over fifty years of experience and tens of thousands of custom challenge coins sold, we pride ourselves on being the experts you can trust.
We share our knowledge so you can make an informed decision about whether challenge coins are right for you. If you’ve decided they are and wonder what to do next, check out our article '4 Simple Steps to Ordering Challenge Coins' to guide you through the process effortlessly.