Challenge coins are unique, custom-made coins used to represent a group, occasion, or organization. They are usually circular and small and mostly bear the group’s or organization’s logo or emblem.
They may have the same shape, size, or materials as other coins like quarters, pennies, dimes, or nickels but have other unique distinguishing features.
Challenge coins are not to be used as currency because they have no monetary value. Instead, people hold on to them for commemorative or sentimental value. People may carry them in their pockets, display them on walls, or have them in a collection box.
What Are Challenge Coins Used For?
Challenge coins started primarily as a military tradition. Members of the military were given a challenge coin when they joined. If any soldier showed their coins, all the others had to show theirs. Whoever did not have a coin or lost theirs needed to buy everyone a round.
That custom helped build a strong camaraderie sense among the military members. As time went by, the coin held more significance. To date, military members are given challenge coins. Sometimes it shows acceptance to an exclusive club if someone is given the coin when joining the military.
Other veterans use them in a civilian environment whenever they want to talk to someone. People who have served in the military sometimes feel forgotten and overlooked or feel like a burden after returning to their civilian families.
Some may also have PTSD, and they need someone to talk to. Producing their challenge coins shows that they need a close person to open up to. Producing the challenge coin could also signify mutual friendship and respect among veterans.
With the popularity of challenge coins and their significance, more groups and organizations have started designing their custom challenge coins.
Some organizations have challenge coins that they give their employees as a sign of appreciation. It is a perfect way to boost employee morale and make others work hard for their challenge coins.
Other workplaces have challenge coins for employees dealing with issues like sexual harassment. When they present those coins to HR or any other person in the organization, it means they need someone to talk to.
Schools also have perfect custom ems coins that they give to students who perform well academically and are excellent leaders.
Suicide prevention coins are also popular challenge coins, and they usually have a white or yellow ribbon put in the design. These coins are given to people who suffer from suicidal thoughts or tendencies to show that they need to open up to someone.
There are also challenge coins for police officers, firefighters and first responders, and masonic members.
How To Make A Custom Challenge Coin
For people who want to design a perfect custom ems coin, there are a few steps they need to follow.
Generate the idea
People first have to understand what they are using the coins for, the artwork they want on the front and back of the coins, and the color patterns they imagine on the coin. Answering these questions helps people understand and get a general idea of the coin.
People also need to think about what the logos, images, and slogans will look like to match the coin’s purpose. People can draw inspiration from other challenge coins, Google, or Pinterest. To help put everything together, it is best to have sketches of the idea.
Customize the coin design
The key to creating challenge coins is customizing them to match the purpose or event. For a perfect custom ems coin, people need to think about the size, shape, style, weight, texture, color, finish, and border design.
Some of the popular finishes or colors for challenge coins include shiny gold, satin gold, antique gold, shiny rose gold, shiny silver, antique silver, satin silver, shiny nickel, antique nickel, satin nickel, shiny copper, antique copper, and satin copper.
People might also add a few extra features to the coin like glow-in-the-dark enamel, translucent enamel, epoxy coating, rhinestones, engraved sequential numbers, and a spinning centerpiece. People have to decide what goes on the front of the coin and what goes on the back.
Submitting and revising the design
After designing and customizing the perfect custom ems coin, the next step is submitting the design to the coin makers. They make a prototype coin containing all the details and send it back to the client.
If the coin does not match the client’s expectations, the client can revise the design until satisfied. However, most coin makers charge for every revision, so clients have to be careful about the number of revisions.
After the client is happy with the prototype, the coin makers make the coins in larger numbers.
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