Challenge coins are multifunctional tokens that can be designed in many different ways for your events or organizations based on their purpose, design, function, and metal finish. In this article, I will introduce the main types of coins. I will help you choose by listing down the different types of challenge coins and explaining their purpose and the best ways to customize and use them.
No matter if you are new to coin or an experienced person, the article will help you a lot.
Types of Challenge Coins by Purpose
Military Challenge Coins
Military challenge coins are the most popular and most common type of challenge coins. They are used to give honor to military units like battalions and squadrons for their accomplishments and service.
They can be designed with the unit’s logo, emblem, colors, and other important details.
Commemorative Challenge Coins
Commemorative challenge coins are designed for special events such as anniversaries, gatherings, and meetings. They serve as the remembrance of these events.
Like other challenge coins, you can customize your commemorative challenge coins with your event’s name, slogan, information, and other details.
Police Challenge Coins
Police challenge coins can be designed with your unit’s insignia, emblem, or motto. They’re made for police departments, sheriffs, and law enforcement units. They’re also used to boost team morale and police appreciation.
Firefighter and EMS Challenge Coins
Firefighter and EMS challenge coins are special kind of challenge coins. They show unity, support, and comradery among firefighters, paramedics, and first responders. They also help in promoting charities and fundraising events that can increase funds.
You can design them with your team’s insignia, symbol, name, motto, or colors.
Academic Challenge Coins
Academic challenge coins represent school pride and unite the community. They’re great tools to celebrate milestones and honor accomplishments done by students, clubs, and organizations.
For universities and schools, challenge coins are used for recognitions and graduations. They’re often designed with the school logo, insignia, slogan, and colors.
Corporate Challenge Coins
Challenge coins are also used for corporate agencies, gatherings, customers, staff, and other events. They carry the company’s values and achievements, boosting the corporate brand.
Corporate challenge coins serve as a reward and recognition for hardworking employees. You can customize them in any shape and size with any design.
Sports Challenge Coins
Sports challenge coins serve many purposes. They’re used to improve team performance and camaraderie. It shows that the members belong to the sports club and team. They’re also used to honor athletes or teams for their achievements and excellent performance.
These challenge coins motivate members to do their best in games. You can customize the colors of your sports challenge coins and design them with your team’s logo and name.
Types of Challenge Coins by Design & Crafts
2D Challenge Coins
2D challenge coins are good for custom designs that have more symmetrical lines and event surface. Because of their less raised edges and flat surface, 2D challenge coins make your design look achieve perfect appearance.
2D designs also allow enamel colors. If your design has colors, choose 2D challenge coins.
3D Challenge Coins
If your designs have more textures and details, 3D challenge coins are for you. They have raised edges on the borders that replicate realistic appearance. They’re more suitable for designs that have no colors but have more volume.
3D challenge coins are great for designs like statues, heads, and other three-dimensional objects.
Cut-Out Challenge Coins
Cut-out challenge coins are unique and new kinds of challenge coins preferred by promoters and collectors. You can design them by removing parts of the challenge coins to add depth.
They fit all base metals and are available in any shape. They’re great for custom designs like maps, insignias, and mascots.
Multi-Level Challenge Coins
Multi-level challenge coins are designed and made with multiple layers. Like 3D challenge coins, they also have raised layers and curved edges to make your designs stand out. They’re perfect for metal sculpting, detailed designs, and antique finishes.
Multi-level challenge coins have a premium appearance. For high-level commemorative coins, emblems, or awards, these are the top choice.
Types of Challenge Coins by Enamel & Finish
Soft Enamel Challenge Coins
Soft enamel challenge coins have a more textured surface and raised metal lines where enamel paint is poured into. They give more depth and dimension to your challenge coins.
They have a wide range of uses because of their versatile and vibrant designs. They’re perfect as giveaways and promotional tools.
Hard Enamel Challenge Coins
Hard enamel challenge coins have no raised metal likes and have a smooth, glass-life surface. They’re better for intricate and sophisticated designs.
Just like soft enamel challenge coins, they’re also vibrant. But they’re more durable and resistant to chirping, making them suitable for high-end awards, commemorations, and merchandise.
Antique Finish Coins
If you’re looking for challenge coins that have a timeless and vintage appearance, antique finish coins are the best options for you. They’re mostly used as commemorative pieces, awards, and tokens because of their timeless feel.
They have intricate details that can replicate any custom designs. They’re made with high quality metals like zinc alloy, iron, brass, and aluminum. For metal finishes, you can have them in antique gold, antique nickel, and antique copper.
Special Types of Custom Challenge Coins
Bottle Opener Coins
Bottle opener challenge coins are multi-functional challenge coins that make your bottle openers portable and easy to carry everywhere. It’s created by cutting a piece of the challenge coin to make space for the bottle opener.
You have two options to choose from: internal bottle opener coins or external bottle opener coins. Internal bottle opener coins have a hole and tooth cut in the middle, which is suitable for everyday use. External bottle opener coins have a cut in the outer edge, which is perfect for subtle incorporation and complex designs.
Spinner Coins
Spinner coins or spinner challenge coins offer a dynamic twist to the traditional challenge coins. They have a rotating centerpiece, turning challenge coins into interactive and entertaining medallions.
Spinner coins make your coins more memorable because of its unique and dynamic design. You can customize them for your military or law enforcement units and corporate teams.
How to Choose the Right Type of Challenge Coin For Your Project?
- What is the coin used for?
- Challenge coins are used to honor and present military unit members, law enforcement officials, and police departments. They’re also used by corporations and organizations to award their employees for loyalty and service. Sometimes, collectors also avail challenge coins.
- Who will receive it?
- Challenge coins are received by law enforcement and military members who deserve recognition for their service. Corporate employees also receive challenge coins.
- Budget range
- The budget range for customized challenge coins depends on the design and quantity. They cost $2.09-$4/pc.
- Quantity
- The minimum order quantity is 100 PCS/design.
- Timeline
- The production time is 10-15 days and the delivery time is 5-8 days.
FAQs
The typical sizes of challenge coins are 1.75”, 2” and 1.5”
Custom challenge coins are often made from brass, bronze, zinc alloy, and iron.
Die struck coins are made using a blank planchet pressed down with an engraved stamp while die cast coins are made using a pre-made cast where the metal is poured into.
Soft enamel challenge coins are more textured because the metal ridges are more prominent while hard enamel challenge coins are smoother with the metal ridges evened out by the enamel.
Depending on your chosen size, challenge coins typically weigh from 1 to 2.15 oz.
