Custom Military Dog Tags
Our custom dog tag coins can be made wit your logo on two sides!
The Dog Tag Coin
The dog-shaped designs are more popular than standard round shapes because they allow room for larger insignias and greater amounts of text. Dogs also have long bodies that make it easy to include long quotes or valuable information in their design. The dog tag coin is made so that their recipients can wear the coin on a ball chain or carry it with them. The design of these Challenge Coins mimics traditional military tags, which all soldiers wear at all times in order for identification purposes during missions. The dual sides on these coins give you plenty of space to include information about your military unit. Add 3D if needed for an even more impressive logo, or go with the traditional copper color!
Dog Tag Design
The Monterey Company makes coins in a variety of shapes sizes. Your custom dog tag can be made one or two-sided and can be made with 2D look or 3D.
Traditional dog tags or ID tags were made using lightweight metal with the wearer's name, rank and serial number and given to military personnel. They help identify individual military personnel at home and abroad. Dog-tagged shapes stand apart mainly because of their rectangular shape. They're larger than the popular 1.75-inch or 2-inch coins. They're usually 2.25 or 2.5 inches with 3 mm thickness. Military units like the dog-shaped designs because they're different than the standard round shapes and they allow more room for larger insignias and greater amounts of text on them. "Their long shapes allow them to include long quotes of or valuable amount of text. You cannot do that on a round shape. Our coin design options include soft or hard enamel and epoxy coating can be added for a layer of protection.
What information can you add to a dog tag?
Vital identification information includes:
- Service member's name
- Branch of Service
- Serial Number or Social Security Number
- Blood Type
- Religious Preference (or significant cultural affiliation, like "Jedi")
When customizing your design with the Monterey Company, you can work with a designer to create an excellent piece that will last a lifetime. By adding custom touches, you showcase the great significance of commemorating service personnel through thoughtful touches unique to a person's history or experience.
How to customize a military dog tag
In addition to personal identifying information, customizing a dog tag to commemorate service or to show support can be achieved in many ways. Consider including these personalized touches:
- The years of service dates for the service member
- The location of service by the service member
- Any honors, awards, or recognition received by the service member
- The member's platoon or squadron name, number, or affiliating information
- Personal or thoughtful insignia is specific to the member or family of the member
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What Are Some Of The Best Design Options?
- Designing the artwork is the first step in creating a new design. Military insignia can easily be reproduced in enamels or in raised metal. There are a few things to consider when you order a custom military dog tag.
- Our process is built to work with the needs of your business. We guide you in creating the initial design if needed or we can work with you to customize a pre-existing logo or design idea that you already have. Our experienced staff can offer suggestions to enhance or modify your design as needed in order to ensure that your order is ready for production.
- Once approved the final proof, is die-struck into thick bronze or copper, both sides being struck at the same time, then electroplated, sandblasted, and polished. Hard enamel color is added before polishing, and soft enamel added after polishing, but all color is applied by hand.
- Our normal production time usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the request. We also offer rush orders for an additional cost.
Custom Made Military Dog Tags With Your Insignia
It wasn’t until after the American Civil War that soldiers were required to wear dog tags in order to identify them if they fell in battle. This practice started to avoid the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of unmarked graves for the unknown soldier. Recordkeeping was difficult and imprecise in the 19th century, and using them made identification of soldiers easier.
The History
During World War II, military dog tags began as small round metal tags rather than the shape and size we are familiar with today. Tags included such information as a branch of the military, first initial, surname, birth date, and religion. They could also include rank or service number, blood type, service branch, and an indication of tetanus vaccination. A right index fingerprint was etched on the reverse.
We have a full line of military challenge coins that can be made with soft and hard enamel as well as epoxy coating.
Today, dog tags are made for many other uses besides soldiers in battle or service. We make customized designs for school kids, law enforcement personnel, and dogs, and many are ordered as a way of commemorating participation in groups, activities, and even heroic acts.
The medals we provide are more substantial than the regular aluminum used by the military, we use metals that make these special items that signify affiliation, achievement, and belonging. A variety of finishes, plating, and colors are available for the custom military dog tags, and they can even be turned into bottle openers to make them a usable coin.