Pilots, teams and U.S. soldiers have the right to take their morale seriously. These servicemen and women have helped us to carry the tradition of challenge coins into many walks of life. Though also found among police officers and veterans, firefighters have even adopted the challenge coin tradition. The best way to use a challenge coin depends on you, your organization and the friendships you share in a group. 

What Are Challenge Coins?

Challenge coins come from a military tradition that represents the honor and bond that members of the same group or military unit share. Unlike monetary coins with political figures minted onto them, challenge coins use insignias and short mottos with decals. The special designs and emblems of these coins are intricate, making most coins seem as if they’re medallions. Today, pop culture, outside of public service, embraces challenge coins and even sets new trends. Some in the business world even use corporate challenge coins as business cards, for example.

Believed to have started as a Roman practice, coin giving enables leaders to award their followers with a token of gratitude. Tradition has it that the price of a drink in ancient days was often a coin, which a soldier usually didn’t have. Being presented a coin at a bar and as a trophy became a public ceremony to honor people from within military ranks. Be it 24K gold or polished silver, challenge coins are minted with exquisite detail and the finest craftsmanship. 

Here’s a quick look at seven ways to use your challenge coins: 

1. As Performance Awards

Most U.S. servicemen receive their coins from superiors, making these tokens performance recognitions. Though challenge coins are generally tied to memberships, important achievements call for commemorative coins to be issued. The value of a challenge coin is representative of how valued someone’s performance is. Gold and other precious metals aren’t given out at a special event without someone meeting the highest standards in military performance or public conduct. 

2. A Collector’s Item

Public servicemen can use their personal development as a pathway to collecting challenge coins. The coins they collect can be exchanged within or outside of the military. NASCAR, World Series of Poker and the NFL are examples of the public brands that produce challenge coins outside of military service. The breadth of coins circulating this planet gives you a lifetime worth of collecting to do. Just be sure to acknowledge which coins aren’t tradable or shareable. 

3. Membership Recognition

In the same manner that flags show who a certain group or person is, challenge coins can connect people from different parts of the world together. Such coins are issued once you become a member of a group. Other coins are issued only when you’ve been invested with a group and have passed its tests. Using a challenge coin to make a statement regarding your association with a group can create a sense of honor. Challenge coins are about morale. 

4. A Medium of Exchange

As a medium of exchange, challenge coins can be used as bartering tools for favors or actual objects. Since not every coin is limited to a single group, some collectors, though certainly not at a store, can use their collection for strategic purchases. Challenge coins, being attractive and well-made, might even help you to lead those following you as they hope to receive recognition via your coin. Some coins are precious metals that are valued at the prices of gold and silver. 

5. A Tool of Identification

One of the most prominent stories regarding challenge coins comes from a World War I tale. An American soldier received an emblem that he cherishes within a leather pouch worn around his neck. This same soldier is eventually captured by German enemies. He escapes one night and encounters his American forces who are skeptical of him. The medallion he received from his officer and held in his pouch is what keeps him from being killed by a firing squad. 

6. An Actual Challenge

A coin check challenge is essentially a test to see if service members have their coin with them. Coin checks are done among members who share the same coin and allegiances. Being unable to show your coin when others test you results in you losing. You must buy everyone a round of drinks if you can’t produce your medallion. The opposite is true if the person making the challenge fails to find members without their coin. In essence, challenge coins are a type of game. 

7. Political, Presidential Gifts

In recent years, U.S. presidents have gone public when minting and distributing their own challenge coins. These coins come as surprise honors for servicemen working with the president. Other coins are minted for special occasions with and for foreign diplomats. Each president has the command to customize their own coins while minting any number of them.

Can a Civilian Give a Challenge Coin?

A civilian can give a challenge coin to anyone, but it depends on where the coin is from or who it belonged to. A civilian with a military coin might have encountered it by accident. In a more unique case, civilians might want to honor their servicemen with a challenge coin directly from their hands. Here are the factors to consider when civilians give or issue their own coins:

• Customs: If you, as military personnel, are already obliged to a certain group, it might be inappropriate to brandish other coins.
• Purpose or Objective: Some boundaries can be broken when the reason behind a coin is considered. For example, challenge coins can be issued by civilians in order to raise money for a humanitarian project.
• Rank and Position: There are other traditions within the military that you have to consider before accepting a civilian coin.
• New Memberships: Civilians aren’t required to register with any agency when creating challenge coins for their public groups.

Custom Challenge Coins Like You Have Never Seen

New challenge coins are minted each year. Today, you can customize your own coin and distribute it to whomever you like. By using durable metals and dyes, we can design your coin to be polished, colored and even raised upon its surface. Buying these coins in bulk packages is how many groups save money. You can get your challenge coins online and start the process with all of the resources you need for an ideal mint. 

Browse Challenge Coins Limited to learn more about custom challenge coins and order yours today!

The Roman Empire used to give challenge coins to soldiers who won in battles. These coins usually bear an organization’s emblem, and they are usually given to the members of different organizations. Some of these coins feature organizational values and popular culture attributes. 

Challenge coins are usually available in different sizes. These coins are sometimes made using popular culture references such as well-known people and superheroes. Below are more details on the work that goes into creating these ornate coins. 

Making a Challenge Coin Mold

To make a challenge coin mold, specialists use a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) a CNC machine, CAM software, and a steel block. CAD is a computer program that helps create digital blueprints of the designs needed when manufacturing challenge coins. This program uses the artwork of a challenge coin and will map out the dimensions and tolerances of the challenge coin. 

After the tolerances and dimensions of the coin are mapped out, this information is uploaded into a Computer-Aided Manufacturing software. This software helps run a computer-controlled machine. CNC machines typically have a cutting tool that will help cut out steel coin molds. It will shape the steel block into the design chosen for that particular coin. The cutting tool also helps remove excess material from the steel block’s surface. 

Harden Challenge Coin Molds in a Hot Oven

Once satisfied with the shapes, sizes, and appearances of their challenge coin molds, specialists then put them in a hot oven. Doing this helps harden the challenge coin molds since hot temperatures harden steel. When these molds are red hot, they’re then taken out of the oven and placed in cool oil to harden. 

Deburring Challenge Coins

Freshly made challenge coins will have spurs and sharp ridges. These ridges and spurs can end up hurting someone if they handle the challenge coins with bare hands. 

Deburring a challenge coin involves smoothening any sharp ridges and removing spurs. It involves using a machine that has a porous stone, soap and water to smoothen a challenge coin. The porous stone will rub against the coins, smoothening their surfaces.

Colorfilling Challenge Coins

You can colorfill your challenge coins by hand, or you can use a color-filling machine. To colorfill coins by hand, one would need to use special syringes. Using these syringes, colors are added to the recessed areas on challenge coins. Once these colors have been added, the coins are then put back into a hot oven and removed after some time.

Alternatively, professionals using specialized machinery can carry out large orders of custom challenge coins, saving the time and energy that would’ve been needed to do it by hand. 

Polishing Challenge Coins

Specialists then need to polish challenge coins to remove excess paint from their surfaces and emphasize some of the finer details. Polishing them will also help produce challenge coins with an even and crisp appearance. You should polish the coins by hand. 

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving helps include small details into custom challenge coins, such as names or numbers for further personalization. They can be laser engraved onto the surface or along the edges of your challenge coins.

Inspecting Challenge Coins

Inspecting your challenge coins is an important step. It helps our team identify the coins that have not met the standards we set for our company. Quality control is a valuable part of our commitment to customers, and we want your experience with us to be beyond satisfactory. 

Many people use challenge coins to inspire others. For instance, some armed forces unit leaders give these coins to soldiers who risk it all on the frontlines. You can give these coins to your employees after they achieve a career milestone. When you give these coins to your employees, they will feel valued and appreciated. 

Challenge Coins Limited is a trusted provider of the highest quality custom challenge coins. Contact our team today to get started on your order!

Challenge coins throughout history create a connection between members of various groups. The tradition goes all the way back to an elite squad in World War I, and they have now become a way to connect groups. Here is a look at some of the different groups or activities associated with challenge coins and some history of how to display your coins.

History of Challenge Coins

Around the time of the Vietnam War, challenge coins became popular. The military used them as a way to connect members together and a way to foster brotherhood. Soldiers considered receiving a challenge coin to be an honor. There are rules on how to use them. For example, when using them, the player is “throwing down a challenge.”

Other Challenge Coin Groups

There are other challenges as well. Groups around the world use them for the same reason. In some cases, they are used to encourage group members. 

Religious Coins

• Our Father
• Armor of God
• Lord’s Prayer

Morale Coins

• Do No Harm
• Heads of Tails
• PTSD

Games Played

Throwing down a coin is a challenge to show that you have the coin on you. Specific instructions are all part of the challenge. You only have four steps to present the coin, and as stated, you must always have it on you. If you have the coin on you and can follow the four-step rule, then you get free drinks from the one who can’t. It’s a fun way to join in on the camaraderie. You better have the coin in your pocket when you go out in case you run into your service friends.

How to Display Challenge Coins

Firstly, you will need a display for them. There are many available for sale. It all depends on what your style is and how many you have. They must be displayed with honor, so placement is very important. They should be kept in a place you deem important when they’re not on you. Here are some ideas collectors and those in the armed forces use. 

Wall Display

This is the best choice if you have a large collection of challenge coins. They can be found in many styles. They generally have a glass cover that can be opened. Each one can be customized to your style for your branch of service. 

Slant Case

These are cases that place the coins at an angle. The slanted angle makes it easier to see the coins. Usually, slant cases are made out of wood and are able to carry many coins. The coins are lined up at the exact point to see each one. Slant cases can be the ideal option if you want to share your collection with other collectors. You can have your own personal display. Tabletops are great for easy access when you head out for the day.

Presentation

There are several presentation options for daily use. You can opt for plastic cases or velvet cases, for instance. The plastic cases are the best ones for your wallet as you can carry them on you. When you return home, you can return the coins to their display case. Velvet cases protect the coins better than the plastic ones. 

Custom Coins

Custom coins can be created for anything. Special designs and uses are a fun way to create a memory for life. Custom coins are used to build friends and groups. The games are fun and collecting is a great way to honor whatever thing in your life you believe deserves the memory. Create whatever you want to display and enjoy your collection. Place them in your coin display case and show them to family or friends. 

Looking to make a custom challenge coin? Visit our website at Challenge Coins Limited to get started.