How to Design a Challenge Coin: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Creating a custom challenge coin is similar to crafting your own superhero emblem. The challenge coin combines your team’s identity with your mission objectives and your narrative into a polished metal token. Our team will guide you through the custom coin process no matter if you are recognizing military units or police departments or celebrating your company’s hard work.

The Monterey Company creates challenge coins through an easy and enjoyable process that allows full customization. Our services extend to honoring military members, special event recognition, and displaying team pride through unique ways.

Your First Step in Creating Challenge Coins
Let’s start with the first step. (Spoiler: it’s easy.)

We need only your concept in any form whether it’s a sketch, photo, logo, or a quick napkin doodle. Our design team transforms your idea into a personalized challenge coin design that manifests your vision.

Our service includes free design work and unlimited revisions along with excellent customer support. We will make your dog’s face appear majestic on the coin if that’s your goal. Start here and get a free quote!

Custom Design Tips From the Pros

Think About Your Coin’s Purpose

Is this for a retirement party? A Coast Guard unit? A Police Department? A firehouse crew? Custom designs for challenge coins need to reflect the story each coin represents.

Military challenge coins that are customized typically display unit numbers along with flags and emblems. Corporate challenge coins often display company logos together with taglines or QR codes. Badges, shields, and community slogans stand out as excellent design choices for police coins.

Choose the Right Design Elements

Every effective coin requires a few essential components to achieve quality.

Size (standard is 1.75″)

Custom coins can be designed in several shapes including round and square as well as dog tag and bottle opener forms.

Edge of the coin (Rope Edge? Diamond cut? Smooth?)

Front and back artwork

Our metal plating options include Antique Gold, Black Metal and antique copper which offer numerous appealing features.

Enamel colors (bold or subtle? Soft or hard enamel?)

Need help choosing? Our team is your design compass. Our team will guide you through every design option until we discover your ideal choice.

Let’s Talk Metal: Coin Types and Finishes

 Metal Coins With Character

Custom coins typically use zinc alloy as their base because it provides durability at an affordable price while being ideal for detailed designs. Finishes including antique gold and black metal can give your coins a precious metal appearance.

• ➤ Antique Gold (rich and classic)
• ➤ Antique copper (warm and vintage)
• ➤ Black Metal (tough and modern)
• ➤ Choose shiny gold finishes along with silver or nickel options to achieve a bright and reflective look.

Want a unique look? Choose a dual-plated finish for distinction or incorporate colored enamel for a vibrant touch.

Enamel Options: Soft vs Hard Enamel

Coins made with soft enamel feature recessed color fills that produce a textured surface and perform excellently with bold colors.

The hard enamel coin demonstrates smoothness with its ultra-sleek surface. The sleek hard enamel finish creates a polished professional look suitable for executive awards and Corporate Coins.

Whatever finish you select for your coins we’ll ensure they look extremely valuable even though your order quantity stands at only 100.

The Design Process with The Monterey Company

It All Starts with an Idea

Our design process is simple:

Send us your design concept which could be an image, logo, or text regardless of what you have.

Our graphic designer and design team will collaborate with you

• ➤ Review your free artwork
• ➤ Request unlimited revisions
• ➤ Approve your proof
• ➤ Start coin production!

Our team will guide you throughout the entire design process and you don’t need professional design skills.

How Long Does It Take?

Your custom coin production starts after design approval and requires 10–15 business days to complete. Need your custom challenge coins faster? Ask about rush service!

We provide free shipping for samples too! Just ask our sales team for samples.

Showcase Your Own Custom Challenge Coin

Your custom challenge coin can mark occasions like promotions and retirements as well as company achievements and special anniversaries or limited edition releases. We’ve produced thousands of Firefighter Challenge Coins, military challenge coins and Corporate Challenge Coins with photographic proof available.

Challenge Coin Gallery

Visit our Challenge Coin Gallery to view authentic designs created for Army Challenge Coins and for use by law enforcement groups and major organizations including nonprofits.

Want to be featured? Share your coin details on social media platforms while tagging our account to get featured.

Add Some Flavor With Custom Features

Want to make your coin really pop? Here are some great ways:

• ➤ Glow-in-the-dark enamel
• ➤ Epoxy coating for shine
• ➤ Bottle opener cutouts
• ➤ Unique shapes like shields or states
• ➤ Serial numbering or laser engraving
• ➤ Spinner or 3D relief on coins (for extra wow)

Need help deciding? Our customer support team enjoys bringing your creative ideas to life through chat conversations.

Signature Coins for Every Coin Style

We’ve made Signature Coins for:

• ➤ Military units and unit members
• ➤ Military units and unit members
• ➤ Firefighter Coins
• ➤ Government branches like the Coast Guard
• ➤ Corporations looking to motivate staff
• ➤ Coin collectors who want one-of-a-kind designs
• ➤ Geocaching coins and tokens

Our team is prepared to design the ideal challenge coin that corresponds to your specific goal.

Why The Monterey Company?

Here’s What Makes It Easy:

• ➤ Simple quoting process
• ➤ We provide immediate assistance by calling us directly.
• ➤ Fast, clear updates
• ➤ Honest timelines
• ➤ Friendly humans

And yes, we actually answer the phone. Please call us through the Phone Number provided on our website.

We stand as your superior business partner beyond just being a manufacturing facility. Here’s what sets us apart:

Decades of experience in Custom Products

Tons of glowing CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Friendly service and real artists

Support for bulk orders and small runs

Proudly based in the United States

Our team stands ready to create custom military coins, Custom Lapel Pins, or Custom Medallions for you.

Final Thoughts on How to Design a Challenge Coin

The design process for crafting a challenge coin can be straightforward and enjoyable when you partner with The Monterey Company. Developing your idea into a finished product can be accomplished without causing overwhelming stress. The Monterey Company provides a creative and smooth experience that turns work into enjoyable fun.

From the initial idea until you have the metal coin in your hands you will benefit from exceptional customer service support and top-tier design services. We make every coin look like a trophy case piece whether you desire a basic one or want a thick coin with unique shape and full color.

Create a personalized challenge coin today so we can build something amazing together.