Storing and Caring for Your Challenge Coin Collection
A well-curated collection of challenge coins deserves thoughtful storage and display. Whether you’re showcasing beautiful coins earned through service or preserving commemorative pieces for the future, the right challenge coin display case can make all the difference.
For collectors who want to highlight favorites, a coin stand or challenge coin holder offers a simple, elegant solution. These are ideal for desks, shelves, or presentation areas where a single coin or a few key pieces deserve the spotlight. They’re especially popular for displaying rank insignia coins, retirement gifts, or unit-specific tokens.
If you’re organizing a growing challenge coin collection, a display box provides protection and presentation. These boxes often feature foam or velvet-lined compartments that prevent scratching while allowing each coin to be easily viewed.
For more formal or decorative storage, an elegant coin display case made of wood or acrylic can serve as both furniture and a showcase. These wall-mounted or tabletop cases are perfect for anyone who wants to turn their challenge coins into conversation pieces. They offer room for multiple rows of coins and can be arranged by branch, mission, or year.
Who Collects Challenge Coins?
Military challenge coins were initially used to identify soldiers from specific units to sentries on the battlefield. When initiating a coin check, the soldier being challenged would produce a coin to identify his unit. While challenge coin history is rooted in the battlefield, their use has grown into a symbol of respect and service, traded freely between individuals from different organizations and often awarded to recognize exemplary service.
Challenge coins have continued to evolve, and are used by law enforcement, fraternal organizations such as the Masons, sporting teams, corporations or even individuals who mint their custom coins for sale or trade. We can help you design and mint your own unique challenge coins.
While there is a great deal of military etiquette surrounding the use of challenge coins, their broad appeal and use by hobbyists mean that there are no hard and fast challenge coin rules today. There is a thriving marketplace involving collectors from all walks of life all over the world.
How to Store Challenge Coins to Protect Them
No matter which challenge coin display option you choose, proper care is essential. Avoid exposing your coins to high humidity or direct sunlight, as both can damage finishes over time. Regular dusting and gentle polishing with a microfiber cloth keeps them looking their best.
We recommend storing backup coins or less frequently displayed items in a secure challenge coin box or padded case. That way, you can rotate your favorite coins without risking wear and tear. As your collection grows, we can help with all your challenge coin display needs—from simple holders to large showcase pieces that tell the story of your service, mission, or organization.
There are albums designed specifically for challenge coins made by the US Mint, Dansco and others. These albums have rigid pages that allow viewing multiple coins on each page. If this method of display does not appeal to you, you could make your own.
How Do You Make a Challenge Coin Display?
A simple challenge coin display case can be made by placing them on a rich felt or velvet liner within a shadow box, under glass. Or, if you’re not “crafty”, you could purchase a veteran-made display online.
Whether you choose to purchase an album or construct one of your own, we recommend that you display your challenge coins proudly while protecting them from the elements.
