Custom military coins symbolize the fellowship and shared identity found within a tight-knit group of soldiers. While custom coins come in many different forms, choosing a
shaped coin is a great place to start when considering how best to create a meaningful coin design. Even before the artwork is drawn, the recognizable shape of a military ID tag calls to mind a sense of identity and unity found among soldiers all throughout the armed services.
The familiar dog tag shape is easily recognizable and quite popular with our military customers. Whether intended for use as a familiar bottle opener, or to commemorate a military birthday ball, the benefits of dog tag challenge coins are immediately evident.
Almost all of the dog tag challenge coins we help design come with a small cut out to fit a ball chain necklace like this design. Whether you want to wear it around your neck or secure them to a key ring, this simple option makes it a breeze.
The high polish silver plating makes a big impression in this dog tag challenge coin design. If you look at the rays of light issuing from the Master Sergeant insignia, you can see how recessed sandblasting can add a unique texture to a design and add contrast.
The high polish silver plating makes a big impression in this dog tag challenge coin design. If you look at the rays of light issuing from the Master Sergeant insignia, you can see how recessed sandblasting can add a unique texture to a design and add contrast.
One of the coolest features of this dog tag challenge coin is the contrast between the two sides of the design. The front has a wheel of military emblems set against a vibrant American flag design, while the back of the coin uses black enamel to create a much darker finish.
One of the coolest features of this dog tag challenge coin is the contrast between the two sides of the design. The front has a wheel of military emblems set against a vibrant American flag design, while the back of the coin uses black enamel to create a much darker finish.
The emblems on the back of this coin are unique to the team, but the Nomads chose a lone figure dressed in an EOD suit as the centerpiece of the artwork. Even more unique is the way the bottle open hook is incorporated into the design as the mountain's peak.
The emblems on the back of this coin are unique to the team, but the Nomads chose a lone figure dressed in an EOD suit as the centerpiece of the artwork. Even more unique is the way the bottle open hook is incorporated into the design as the mountain's peak.
Including team emblems in a unit coin design is a great way to make them meaningful to a team, and adding a bottle opener cut out is a great way to boost morale and encourage soldiers to enjoy their days off by sharing a cold drink with their friends.
Including team emblems in a unit coin design is a great way to make them meaningful to a team, and adding a bottle opener cut out is a great way to boost morale and encourage soldiers to enjoy their days off by sharing a cold drink with their friends.
The difference in tone between the front a back of this dog tag challenge coin is striking (pun intended). The high polish silver metal is bright and reflective, ensuring that the black enamel design on the back provides a nice contrast.
The translucent enamel provides a rich, blue tone on the front of this coin. Translucent colors allow a small amount of light to reach the metal plating underneath. The gold and red color scheme on the back of the coin also has a unique effect.
FEM Bagdad Processing Division Dog Tags
This CTF Dragoon bottle opener features high contrast dual plating in gold and silver. The slightly darker silver really helps to contrast the bright gold.
This dog tag bottle opener coin was created by the Joint Base San Antonio. The front features a skull and crossed bullets design created with a 3D mold, and the back has a 3D molded assault rifle. The small cut out is perfect for a ball chain.
This dog tag bottle opener coin was created by the Joint Base San Antonio. The front features a skull and crossed bullets design created with a 3D mold, and the back has a 3D molded assault rifle. The small cut out is perfect for a ball chain.
The information included on military issued ID tags is limited to name, social security number, blood type and religious preference. Dog tag challenge coins, on the other hand, have limitless potential for unique artwork and information. While including personal information like social security numbers is not advisable for any sort of challenge coin, creating a design with key information that identifies a unit goes a long way in making a meaningful and memorable coin. Artwork centered around emblems, mascots and team names are perfect for celebrating what brings a team together and makes them unique.
Custom shaped challenge coins can take the form of pretty much anything you can think of. If your idea is to create a dog tag challenge coin that looks as close as possible to the real thing, our team can make it happen.
The current ID tags issued to soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces are made from steel alloy, have a familiar rectangular shape with rounded corners and are about 2” long and 2mm thick. While it’s easy to create a coin with these dimensions, most of our dog tag challenge coins are made from brass, zinc or steel and are usually about 2.5” long and 3mm thick. This is because a majority of the custom dog tag coins we help design incorporate a bottle opener cut out which calls for a larger, thicker coin design.
Custom bottle openers are perfect for award ceremonies, military birthday balls or just as special gifts awarded as a sign of gratitude. Not only can a design incorporate team colors and emblems, but the functional bottle opener encourages soldiers to unwind and share a cold drink together during their time off.
Even with a bottle opener cut out, dog tag challenge coins still have plenty of room for unique artwork and designs. A traditional set of military ID tags have the matt silver appearance of steel, but we offer all kinds of custom metal plating options that can change up the look of your dog tag design. Anything from high polish gold plating to black metal is available, and if you’re considering adding serial numbers similar to the ID numbers found on real life dog tags, consider including laser engraving and sequential numbering in the artwork.
Our intricate coin molding process makes it easy to recreate team emblems and mottos in coin design, and using the Pantone Color Matching System ensures that the emblems and logos included in the artwork are a perfect match to a squad’s existing brand.
Customers getting ready to create a coin for their team should always start out by taking a look at our custom challenge coin template. The coin template has space for you to sketch out ideas, take notes and choose custom options you think will work best with your coin design. We offer keychain attachments as well as ball chain necklaces, so be sure to let us know if you would like either included with your order.
The coin template is not required, but it helps keep your ideas organized and helps our art team get a clear idea of what kind of custom coin you need. When you’re ready for us to get started, fill out a free quote form on our website. Our sales team will put together a free pricing quote based on your design and send it along with your first free proof of artwork in 48 hours or fewer.
Our Signature Coins team has been in the business of creating custom coins since the year 2000. The dog tag challenge coins we help create represent team heritage and character, and are just as much a mark of identity as the military issued ID tags worn around soldiers’ necks across every branch of service. If you have an idea for the perfect dog tag challenge coin design for your team, give us a call, and we’ll help bring that idea to life.
All of our customers receive free artwork and revisions, as well as free overnight shipping. Whether you need your coins for an award ceremony or a going away ceremony before deployment, our team will take all the necessary steps to meet your deadline. Fill out a free quote form today, and see what makes us the number one free online coin designer on the market.
| Size | 50 | 100 | 300 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | $6.03 | $3.66 | $3.24 | $3.16 | $3.08 | $3.02 |
| 1.75" | $6.83 | $4.16 | $3.74 | $3.69 | $3.64 | $3.59 |
| 2" | $7.61 | $4.63 | $4.29 | $4.23 | $4.18 | $4.13 |
| 2.25" | $8.28 | $5.24 | $4.87 | $4.81 | $4.73 | $4.68 |
| 2.5" | $9.30 | $6.21 | $5.84 | $5.71 | $5.70 | $5.65 |
| 2.75" | $10.27 | $6.83 | $6.48 | $6.23 | $6.07 | $6.02 |
| 3" | $11.40 | $7.43 | $7.12 | $6.72 | $6.46 | $6.40 |
| 3.25" | $15.15 | $8.20 | $7.84 | $7.43 | $7.12 | $6.72 |
| 3.5" | $16.66 | $9.02 | $8.63 | $8.16 | $7.83 | $7.39 |
| 3.75" | $18.33 | $9.91 | $9.48 | $8.99 | $8.61 | $8.12 |
| 4" | $20.16 | $10.91 | $10.43 | $9.88 | $9.47 | $8.93 |
| Size | 50 | 100 | 300 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | $5.69 | $3.45 | $2.97 | $2.92 | $2.86 | $2.81 |
| 1.75" | $6.32 | $3.79 | $3.40 | $3.34 | $3.27 | $3.22 |
| 2" | $6.93 | $4.27 | $3.84 | $3.77 | $3.69 | $3.64 |
| 2.25" | $7.82 | $5.02 | $4.57 | $4.54 | $4.48 | $4.43 |
| 2.5" | $8.92 | $6.13 | $5.65 | $5.11 | $4.75 | $4.70 |
| 2.75" | $9.71 | $6.62 | $6.26 | $5.86 | $5.58 | $5.53 |
| 3" | $10.77 | $7.00 | $6.88 | $6.60 | $6.40 | $6.34 |
| 3.25" | $13.78 | $7.83 | $7.58 | $7.28 | $7.07 | $6.20 |
| 3.5" | $15.16 | $8.61 | $8.34 | $8.01 | $7.78 | $6.83 |
| 3.75" | $16.68 | $9.47 | $9.17 | $8.81 | $8.55 | $7.51 |
| 4" | $18.34 | $10.42 | $10.09 | $9.69 | $9.41 | $8.25 |
| Size | 50 | 100 | 300 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | $5.26 | $3.23 | $2.73 | $2.67 | $2.61 | $2.56 |
| 1.75" | $5.80 | $3.51 | $3.05 | $2.97 | $2.94 | $2.88 |
| 2" | $6.29 | $3.83 | $3.34 | $3.24 | $3.20 | $3.14 |
| 2.25" | $7.44 | $4.75 | $4.01 | $3.79 | $3.73 | $3.67 |
| 2.5" | $7.87 | $5.38 | $4.30 | $4.26 | $4.08 | $4.03 |
| 2.75" | $8.97 | $6.13 | $5.53 | $5.29 | $5.05 | $5.00 |
| 3" | $9.95 | $6.90 | $6.77 | $6.35 | $5.99 | $5.94 |
| 3.25" | $13.13 | $7.60 | $7.46 | $7.00 | $6.62 | $5.89 |
| 3.5" | $14.44 | $8.36 | $8.21 | $7.70 | $7.28 | $6.47 |
| 3.75" | $15.89 | $9.20 | $9.03 | $8.47 | $8.00 | $7.12 |
| 4" | $17.47 | $10.12 | $9.93 | $9.31 | $8.81 | $7.83 |
(on coins up to 2.5")
| Size | 1 Side | 2 Sides | Order 300+ Coins |
| 1.5" | $50.00 | $100.00 | FREE |
| 1.75" | $62.50 | $125.00 | FREE |
| 2" | $75.00 | $150.00 | FREE |
| 2.25" | $87.50 | $175.00 | FREE |
| 2.5" | $100.00 | $200.00 | FREE |
| 2.75" | $112.50 | $225.00 | - |
| 3" | $125.00 | $250.00 | - |
| Size | 1 Side | 2 Sides | Order 300+ Coins |
| 1.5" | $50.00 | $100.00 | FREE |
| 1.75" | $62.50 | $125.00 | FREE |
| 2" | $75.00 | $150.00 | FREE |
| 2.25" | $87.50 | $175.00 | FREE |
| 2.5" | $100.00 | $200.00 | FREE |
| 2.75" | $112.50 | $225.00 | - |
| 3" | $125.00 | $250.00 | - |
Choose the Edge Style that fits your needs
Select from a wide array of custom coin options
Interactive coins where part of the coin is designed to spin or rotate freely.
Not only can the outer shape of the coin be customized, but the interior areas can be “cut out” as well
3D coins have an unlimited number of sculpted levels. We can round edges and create smooth gradations.
The perfect option for anyone looking for trackable coins or just a fun way to make every coin a little more special.
Choosing from our selection of glow enamels ensures your design will continue to shine even when the lights go out.
Not only can you design the front and back of your coins, but the true edge can be engraved with messages as well.
A challenge coin is usually a metal coin or medallion, bearing an organization's insignia, emblem or logo and carried by the organization's members. Traditionally, challenge coins were used by the military and displayed by service men and women to prove exclusive membership when challenged, and to enhance the military units' morale.
Historically, challenge coins were awarded by military unit commanders in recognition of special achievement made by a member of the unit. They are also known to be exchanged and traded during recognition visits to different international organizations, bases and service tours. These coins have been heavily collected by active and retired service members and law enforcement personnel for years.
Modern challenge coins are made in a variety of sizes and often include popular culture references such as superheroes as well as known characters in a parody. Many companies today are using them to build morale in teams, link people with similar interests and even to promote their brand. Challenge coin designs today are pushing the boundary of what a challenge coin could mean or be used for. One thing is for sure, personalized coins further strengthen the sense of bond within people that both give and receive them.
Challenge coins are often used as a physical token or symbol to represent membership to an organization, unit, or team.
Challenge coins also serve as a lasting personal award for anyone that has received one. Since they are custom and long lasting, challenge coins serve well to commemorate the time and experience put in to overcome overwhelming obstacles or the extraordinary effort and sacrifice needed to reach a given achievement. These keepsake coins become a life long reminder of the achievements made.
Challenge coins can also be used as a token to commemorate a special event or anniversary. You can view some of our commemorative coins here.
Our bravest first responder services also have a history of using challenge coins. Whether for fire departments, emergency medical technicians or law enforcement officers, challenge coins have been used to award bravery, acts of heroism and department camaraderie.
Many companies today have been started by veterans, or are veteran owned and are beginning to use the challenge coin tradition to help represent accomplishments in their businesses. This modern approach to awarding challenge coins has garnered some criticism from the traditionalists. Signature Coins has been making challenge coins for 20 plus years, and we see more and more companies joining in on awarding custom challenge coins to customers, staff, and volunteers. They are using them to build morale in teams, link people with similar interests and even to promote their brand or charities.
Generally speaking you give someone a challenge coin when you want to honor them for a good deed or for their hard work.
Challenge coins still play a major role in the military today, much like a "Thank you Plus" or "Great Job Plus". In the armed forces not every action rates an honorable medal or certificate, for those moments when someone is deserving of more than a thank you, awarding them with a challenge coin fills the gap.
As a very simple miltary example. You're out on a 3 day field op. One of your guys or gals busts their butt during a particularly stressful couple hours of it. Shows great attitude, effort, and was overal top notch. If you tried to write it up, it wouldn't "quite" be "award worthy" but definitely deserved "recognition."
Now even if you’re not a veteran or a member of the armed forces, you can still recognize and award someone with custom challenge coins.
You can use challenge coins to reward employees after the completion of a special project or if huge accomplishments have been made company wide. The coin design can be representative of the achievement, the employee or the company goals. Studies show when employees are recognized for a job well done, they feel more satisfied with their job performance, are more likely to reach for higher goals, and are more loyal to their organizations.
Finding the right time and place to give someone a challenge coin can be, well, a bit challenging.
Military tradition has a few ways of approaching this honor. One being "The Secret Handshake" where commanding officers, department officials or the president himself would shake a soldiers hand and "slip" them the coin via the handshake. Transferring the coin shouldn’t be dramatic or obvious, like a quiet wink and a nod, this honor is more personal to the people giving and receieving the award and less ceremonial. Although a bit more obvious, another military tradition is to hand them out in front of a formation or during a meeting, but it's more commonly done one on one.
As more civilians and businesses use challenge coins, they have taken a more ceremonious and inclusive approach to awarding them. When looking to give a challenge coin to an employee or team member most businesses will do it during a team meeting. Some businesses have even integrated their employee award recognition into their annual and quarterly ceremonies. Awarding their employees in front of others can be a great way to show the rest of the team that you too can be "recognized" if the effort is there.
Modern marketers are also finding that custom challenge coins make for great business cards, so many high end service providers, such as lawyers, accountants and commercial developers are now giving their custom coins out as a means of promoting themselves or their business offerings.
Challenge coins typically cost $3.00 -$5.00 per coin for a full production run of 100 coins generally speaking.
More specifically though, it depends. Challenge coin pricing is dependent on a variety of factors including size, quantity, and coloration. Your organization’s insignia or logo, as well as the brand standards surrounding it, will often dictate coloration. The level of complexity, industry standards, and personal preference will dictate the size of the coin.
You can view our challenge coin pricing here.
Designing challenge coins is a lot of fun, but there’s also a ton of things to think about before getting started. Luckily, we have years of experience making custom coins, and we’re happy to help you every step of the way.
We have put together a how-to guide that will tell you everything you need to know about challenge coin design.
Challenge Coin Design 101: A How-To Guide For Creating Challenge Coins
