We strive to meet almost any deadline with our multiple tiers of production times.
Our designers can help turn your idea into a real design! Unlimited revisions of the design included!
We use our own factories and hand-inspect every order to offer our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Our talented local team will help you through the process via phone, email, or live chat.
Your custom commemorative coin, designed for yourself or for your company, can be the most amazing souvenir. We offer the best price and industry quality on custom challenge coins. The coin diameter varies from 1.5" up to 3", and can include unlimited color, edge text, and 3D image. Your coins can also be custom shaped.
Making your own coins has never been easier. If you want to get started right away with our team, don’t forget to send us an email or a quote request and share some examples of the artwork you would like on your coin. If these types of tokens are new territory for you, please let us know and we will send over more information in regards to how they work and why companies use them as well as what different shapes and sizes there are available.
Once you contact us, we'll get back to you within 24 hours. If you need our free design service, you will have your initial proof ready within 48 hours prepared by our challenge coin designer.
Our company is based in Ottawa, capital of Canada, and our team is always available via phone, email or live chat if you need any help during the process. We're here to be your custom coin maker!
According to Wikipedia "a challenge coin is a small coin or medallion, bearing an organization's insignia or emblem and carried by the organization's members."
The challenge coin history dates back to World War I. The soldiers were presented with challenge coins by unit commanders in recognition of special achievements. Please check our dedicated article about the history of challenge coins.
The term "challenge coin" comes from the following tradition. The challenge coin holders would challenge one another to show their coins. This would usually happen at the pub and if the challengee couldn't show the coin, they would have to buy a round of drinks for the challenger and all of their friends at the bar that night.
Custom challenge coins are a great way to commemorate your achievements and milestones in life. Organizations may choose to create custom corporate challenge coins at their meetings or events, while other people might give them out to their loved ones as gifts.
Custom coins are also being utilized by organizations to boost morale, connect individuals with similar interests, and even market their business. Here is a short list of the most popular challenge coin uses:
Firefighter CoinsPolice CoinsMilitary CoinsAir Force CoinsCanadian Armed Forces CoinsCoast Guard CoinsFirst Responders CoinsDog Tags
These custom coins come in many different shapes and sizes, which is one of the things that make them so popular.
Some commemorative coins are round just like regular currency coins, while others are rectangular or custom shaped.
For example, some police departments choose to make their challenge coins in the form of handcuffs, while other departments make them in the form of guns or bullets. Other organizations order custom coins with more practical use - in the form of bottle openers.
The challenge coin size can be as small as a quarter or quite large and heavy, sometimes bigger than the palm of your hand! These metal coins can also vary in thickness, but the standard size is around two to three millimeters.
A custom coin can be created with the design on one side and the information about the recipient on the back. Companies usually put their logos on one side of their corporate coins along with the company's motto or slogan. The other side of the coin can be decorated with the event emblem and some additional company information. Corporate coins are often called business coins.
Now that we know what challenge coins are, let's move on to the whole manufacturing process of customized coins.
It all starts with the creative process of designing the coin. Our customers usually send us draft sketches or just ideas of what they want their coin to look like. After the design is finalized, we create a digital rendering of it that can be used for manufacturing purposes.
Once the design process is finished, the next step is transferring this digital coin design to a pair of coin molds. One mold is made for the front of the coin, and the second for the back of the coin. These molds are often called coin dies and that's where the term "die striking" comes from.
After the coin dies are ready, it's time to start the manufacturing process. The most common metals used for challenge coins are brass, copper, bronze, aluminum, nickel silver, and pewter. Gold and silver can also be used, but they're more expensive and not as commonly used.
The dies are then closed by a huge press, which results in the impression of the coin's design on both sides of the blank. This process gives the minted coins their raised design and texture.
This complicated coin production process proceeds with coin polishing and cleaning. After which they are electroplated. This is mostly a chemical process where the coins are soaked into a solution containing particles of the precious metal. The coins are covered with a thin permanent layer of custom metal plating. The most popular plating options are gold, silver or copper, but there is a variety of other platings such as antique plating or even black plating. In rare cases our client order dual plating and the coins go through the plating process twice.
Finally, after the coins are dry they are ready to be color filled by hand or a special coloring machine. This mostly depends on the number of coins we need to color. We use special syringes filled with soft enamel paint that is filled into the recessed areas of the coin design.
You bet! Challenge coins are a great way to commemorate any occasion, and they make fantastic gifts. It's simple too - all you need is an idea for your challenge coin design. Once you request a quote we will prepare a coin proof. You'll have unlimited revisions of your free artwork until you like the final design. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. The turnaround time is around 14-20 days or fewer.
You're welcome to make as many changes to your coin design as you like. All revisions are completed free of charge.
There are many challenge coin companies there that charge you for coin artwork - but not us. We want our clients to be 100% satisfied with their coins, so we're more than happy to make any changes necessary.
Costs for custom challenge coins vary depending on the size, quantity, and design of the coin. There is no minimum quantity. However, the more your order the less the cost per coin will be.
Strike Your Coins offers some of the most competitive prices in the industry, and we always work to ensure that our clients are happy with their coins.
To order custom coins fill out our free quote form and a representative will be in touch with you shortly.
Selecting high-quality packaging is one approach to maintain the quality and workmanship of your custom challenge coins while also protecting them.
Every order comes with free PVC coin envelopes. They are acid-free, transparent and safe for long-term keeping.
The Coin Capsules are made of hard, clear, and smooth plastic. The cover and base snap together firmly to form a tight seal, which keep the coin safe and easy for viewing.
The presentation box covered with velvet material of your color choice is a great upgrade to the standard packaging.
The police challenge coins are an important part of police history and tradition, as well as a sign of mutual respect among police officers. The police challenge coin honors fallen members of law enforcement, recognizes current members for their contributions to the unit, and promotes camaraderie among the organization's members. We have a special article about police challenge coins.You can also order other military coins online.
Canada is a great nation with ten provinces and three territories. Each province has its own unique culture, history, and landscape. The people of Canada are proud of their country and enjoy celebrating its diversity. There are various events throughout the year that bring Canadians together to commemorate their shared values and customs.
Custom Canadian Coins made for corporate, community and private occasions often reflect the spirit of this nation and its people.
Traditional challenge coins are circular and have custom artwork of a team's logo, slogans, important locations, and dates of major events.
2D challenge coins have two levels of metal: the raised and recessed parts (struck and non-struck). Traditional 2D challenge coins provide plenty of space for intricate design, while a 3D Challenge Coin allows for more realistic detail. 3D coins can be used to create smooth gradations between the raised and recessed areas on 3D challenge coins because they have an infinite number of levels.
3D challenge coins are a recent development in the challenge coin industry. They add an extra level of interest and complexity to traditional 2D designs. While some people are initially hesitant to try 3D coins, they quickly become fans of their unique look and feel.
While you can get custom-made coins as cheap as $3 per coin or another lowest price possible, there are rare custom coins that people pay tens of thousands of dollars per piece. They are made by Roman Booteen a Russia-based DaVinci of our times. Hobo nickel creations by Roman have both the topic and level of intricacy that regularly shock the coin collecting community. His finest quality challenge coins include pop culture figures, and he often plays with exaggerating and softening the facial features of his characters giving them a real sense of personality.
Some popular designs that can be engraved on custom challenge coins include:
team logosunit insigniascoat of armsmottos slogansimportant locationssignificant dates of major eventswedding couple facesgraduation year
We can also engrave custom text on your coins. If you have an idea for a design that isn't listed here, please let us know and we can work with you to create a unique coin that perfectly represents your organization or event.
A custom challenge coin is also known as a commemorative coin or military coin. As mentioned above the whole challenge coin tradition started in the military. Many military units these days have their own custom military challenge coins. These military coins salute the tireless determination and exceptional bravery of all those who serve in their nation's military with pride
However, challenge coins are not exclusive to the military. Many police departments, firefighters, and many other organizations have their challenge coin traditions as well.
Сhallenge coins are often exchanged between members of the military, police officers, and firefighters. However, challenge coins can be given to anyone for any reason. Some people carry challenge coins as a good luck charm or as a way to show their patriotism. Other challenge coins are made as decision-making coins. So if you're stuck taking the decision you can flip the coin to help make your choice.
Personalized coins make great souvenirs and can be treasured by the recipient for years to come.
Absolutely. There are many occasions when civilians can be awarded a challenge coin. Some civilians may receive challenge coins from law enforcement organizations for displaying extraordinary courage or heroism. Other civilians may be presented with commemorative coins as some kind of award.
There are also many other occasions when challenge coins can be presented to civilians. For example, the Governor General of Canada awards Academic medals to students to encourage academic excellence across the nation. These medals have evolved into the most prestigious award that students in Canadian schools can receive.