Police Challenge Coin Ideas:
Why, How and Where to Get Them
The police challenge coins are an important part of police history and tradition, as well as a sign of mutual respect among police officers. Unlike most challenge coins, which typically follow standard design shapes, packaging, and thickness, police challenge coins often feature unique shapes, custom presentations, and varying thickness to enhance their appeal and memorability. 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. In this article we will explore why it’s so important for police units to have custom challenge coins, how they’re made, where you can buy them from.
What are police challenge coins and what do they represent?
Police challenge coins are small, medallion-like coins that carry special meaning and importance to officers and their units. They can come in various custom shapes beyond the traditional round design, often featuring the department’s logo or emblem on one side and the police motto or creed on the other. These coins are often given as keepsakes to current employees, retirees, and civilians who have made special achievement to police work.
Why are police challenge coins so important?
You cannot underestimate the importance of police challenge coins because they carry a lot of symbolism and meaning. They remind police members of their duty to serve and protect, promote unity within a department, and recognize the accomplishments of fellow officers. Custom edging can enhance the visual appeal and tactile experience of police challenge coins, making them even more special.
Police challenge coins are also important because they represent the history and tradition of law enforcement. These small medallions often have a large impact on police culture and can serve as a sign of mutual respect among police members.
How did the tradition of giving out law enforcement challenge coins start, and why are they given out today?
The tradition of giving out challenge coins started during World War I when members of the United States military units started carrying around small medallion-like coins. These coins were given to soldiers as a token of appreciation, and also served as a way to identify fellow unit members.
The creation of custom police challenge coins often starts with a rough design, which is then refined and finalized.
After the war ended, the challenge coin tradition continued, but it wasn’t until the Vietnam War that the army started using them. During the Vietnam War, American service men were given challenge coins by their Vietnamese counterparts. These coins were often inscribed with a special message or token of appreciation.
There is no precise date for when police coins originated. It’s believed that former soldiers (who had received challenge coins while in the military service) began joining police forces all across the country. When they showed their military challenge coins to their colleagues on duty it created a striking effect. Thus the idea of making a special coin for every police officer arose.
Police departments began using challenge coins as a token of respect and gratitude within the department, but also used them for other purposes.
Police challenge coins can also be used for fundraising purposes. Many departments sell challenge coins to civilians and other law enforcement agencies as a way of generating money for special causes or non-profits. For example, a department might sell custom police coins to raise money for a new police memorial or to provide scholarships for children of fallen brave men and women.
This makes police challenge coins a unique and versatile item that can be used for multiple purposes. Not only do they serve as a sign of respect and appreciation among police officers, but they can also be used to generate funds for important causes.
These personalized coins coins are also becoming popular within fire departments, that also started making challenge coins.
Police Challenge Coins Gallery
Hover your mouse on coins to see the back side
Which law enforcement agencies issue police coins, and how can you get one if you're not affiliated with a law enforcement agency yourself?
Many law enforcement agencies issue police coins. Some of the more notable law enforcement agencies that issue challenge coins are the United States Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Police Department (NYPD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
If you’re not affiliated with police forces, do not worry – there are many coin collectors among law enforcement officers out there who are willing to sell or trade their coins. There are also a few online retailers that sell challenge coins. Using a coin stand can help showcase the unique designs and shapes of police challenge coins, making them memorable collectibles.
It’s important to note that not every law enforcement agency issues a challenge coin – some only give them out as gifts to officers, retirees, and civilians who have made significant contributions to law enforcement work.
Get Started with Police Coins
Strike Your Coin has been creating custom police coins for almost a decade. We offer various finishing options, including the cross cut texture, which adds a unique tactile experience to the coins. We have shipped thousands of challenge coins of various sizes and shapes to our customers all over the world. We’ve worked on making custom Canadian coins as well as USA challenge coins.
Please feel free to fill out the below form on this page today to get your quote. We’d love to help you create a unique and memorable challenge coin!
The most rewarding gift you can give your K9 partner.
Police K9 units are one of the most respected and fearsome members in an officer’s arsenal. They play an important role in law enforcement by helping officers track criminals, find drugs, and protect officers and civilians.
Police dogs are often used in high-risk situations because they can be very effective in locating suspects or drugs. In fact, many police departments will not send an officer into a dangerous situation without a K9 partner.
K9s are also used to help build trust with the community. When people see a police K9 unit out on patrol, they often feel more safe and comfortable knowing that the police forces are taking every precaution to keep them safe.
That being said, making custom coins for every K9 dog is something they truly deserve. It shows the support to these brave dogs that serve alongside police partners to protect our society. Using glitter enamel can add a unique and striking visual effect to the custom coins made for K9 units.
What is the minimum quantity for a custom coin project?
We have a team of experts who work quickly and efficiently to ensure that you get a quick response with a free custom coin mockup and price quote. You can count on us for any size order, no matter how large or small the project may be!
There is no maximum or minimum quantity that we cannot handle.
We have worked with hundreds of complex designs and you will have unlimited revisions before final artwork approval of your project.
Get in touch today to learn more about military challenge coins.
What are some of the unique features and designs that different police challenge coins have?
Modern challenge coins come in all shapes and sizes, but they typically have the organization’s insignia on one side and the custom text/image on the other side.
Some custom police coins also feature images of police officers, crime scenes, handcuffs, badges, and other law enforcement-related icons. The majority of police coins feature certain standard imagery associated with the profession, such as a badge, cufflinks, the thin blue line flag, or a bust of St. Michael, the patron saint of law enforcement.
Some of the additional challenge coin options are as follows:
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Antique finish
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Cutout designs
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Bottle openers
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Multi-colored enameling
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Soft and hard enamel
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Edge engraving
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Sequential numbering
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Reeded edge
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Thin blue line design
Soft enamel is a popular choice for adding color and texture to police challenge coins.
Custom Coin Customization Options
All our coins are made to last a lifetime because they’re designed to withstand the test of time. Custom challenge coins can be made in unique shapes to better represent the unit or organization. One side may include your unit logo or slogan, while the other can contain a short thank you message that is easily customizable. Each completed custom challenge coin might have a laser engraving of an employee’s name or a sequencing number for an added personal touch.
To give it a more premium feel and look, each challenge coin can be placed into a velvet presentation box. Such challenge coins police awards will be kept for ages.
We make it easy to create Custom Challenge Coins
And here is what our customers say:
I had very short notice to design and mint some coins during the holiday season. When I gave them my desired delivery date, they clearly explained the latest that we could submit the design. They also helped me flesh out some ideas before finally deciding on a final one. They were very responsive even throughout the holidays, and were able to help design, mint, and deliver the coins just in time for Christmas. Thanks for all the help!
Daniel de Sao Jose - Google Cloud Team
Strike Your Coin was a fantastic help to the Terry Fox Secondary after-grad committee in creating a special momento for the Grad Class of 2020 during the disappointing cancellation of all of the usual grad celebrations due to Covid 19. Artur designed a fantastic coin using the input we had given him and went above and beyond to ensure they were manufactured and delivered in time for the schools alternate drive thru commencement. Not a simple task considering the short turn-around time! The coins are stunning and will be a meaningful keepsake that the grads will have for years to come. Thank you Artur for your hard work and contribution to what will turn our to be a very memorable grad after all!
Tricia Fung - Terry Fox Secondary School
Are there any rules or etiquette associated with owning and displaying police challenge coins?
It's a great honor to receive a challenge coin. Police coins are meant to be displayed and shared with others who have earned the right to possess them. When someone is given a challenge coin, they should always display it with pride.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you're lucky enough to receive one:
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Always display your challenge coin with pride.
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If you're going to carry your challenge coin, make sure it's in a protective case or special holder
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Do not let anyone borrow your challenge coin without permission – it should be considered as sacred as a flag.
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If you decide to retire your challenge coin, make sure to pass it down to another deserving individual.
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Finally, if your police challenge coin gets bent, chipped, or damaged, you should immediately get another one made to replace the damaged coin.
Police Challenge Coins in movies
It is not often that you might spot a challenge coin, especially a police challenge coin, in Hollywood movies.
"The Rookie" is one of the most recent crime drama television series created for ABC. The plot is about a small-town guy in his forties, who becomes the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department. One of the series episodes has a short scene where police members resolve a dispute with a "coin check" challenge.
Why are police challenge coins becoming more popular than ever before?
Police challenge coins are much more than a clever way to commemorate the hard work and dedication that law enforcement officers show on a daily basis. Custom police challenge coins have become an important part of police culture because they provide law enforcement personnel with a sense of brotherhood, camaraderie, and unity.
A challenge coin is also a way for law enforcement members to show their patriotism and support for the country. In a world where people seem to be increasingly divided, challenge coins provide a common bond between brave men and women and civilians.
Police challenge coins are also popular because they make great collectibles. People who appreciate law enforcement work often love owning law enforcement challenge coins as a way to show their support and gratitude.
Ordering custom police challenge coins
Many different online companies make law enforcement challenge coins. Make sure you place an order for custom coins with a reputable company like Strike Your Coin. We've been producing bespoke challenge coins for almost a decade, and our design team has seen a wide range of challenge coin designs.
We've developed a custom challenge coin design template to help you get started with your police coins. Just print out this template and provide us with your design ideas. Our team of talented artists will take your design and turn it into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind challenge coin.
By all means, it is not a requirement to use our challenge coin design template. Just give us a call or fill out our online form and we'll get back to you with a quote and free coin artwork.
No matter where you order custom police coins, make sure you provide all the necessary specifications so that you get exactly what you want. Finally, you should 100% guarantee that by submitting designs to our company or any other coin manufacturer the purchasing party warrants they have the legal right to use the images and text associated with the order.
Common questions when ordering custom coins
Here are some questions to ask the coin manufacturer when ordering:
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What coin sizes do you make?
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Do you offer free artwork?
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How long does it take to make the coin mockup after submitting designs?
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What is the minimum and maximum quantity for custom challenge coins order?
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Can the logo be engraved on each side of the coin?
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Do you offer fast delivery if I have a rush order?
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How long do you keep the coin molds/dies if we need to reorder the same design?
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Do you make 3D custom police coins?
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What are the coin colors that I can choose from?
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Is it possible to get a different color for each side of police coins?
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How long will it take for me to receive my custom coins once I place the order?
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We have a dedicated FAQ page that should answer most of your questions. If you have a question that's not answered on our FAQ page, please don't hesitate to contact us via phone, chat or email.
Why order coins from Strike Your Coin?
We've minted thousands of military coins as well as corporate coins, and we can't wait to hear your coin ideas.
Every custom coin undergoes manual quality control and we're confident that you will be happy with our product.
Our customer satisfaction team is ready to assist you throughout the whole coin production process.
We look forward to working with you!