Test Your Challenge Coin Knowledge
The history of challenge coins is hard to trace, but everyone has heard the legends and stories dating back as far as World War I or even the Roman Empire. There are, however, a lot of things that people don’t know about challenge coins. We decided that it would be fun to put together some of our favorite facts about the industry, so that next time the conversation comes up, you can impress your friends with some little-known knowledge about challenge coins. Take a look and see how much you might already know!
#1 — Which U.S. President Started the Tradition of Creating and Handing out Challenge Coins While in Office?
A look through the presidential portrait gallery will give you the answer. While challenge coins have been around for years, the official presidential coin is a much more recent tradition, and it all started with President Clinton. In his official portrait, you can see his personal collection of challenge coins resting on the desk behind him. Since President Clinton, every president has had their own custom coin created, and the only way to get one is to shake hands with the most powerful man in the world.
Members of Congress and the Senate sometimes have personal coins created, as do celebrities like Henry Cavill and Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man. Coins like these are among the most valuable because of their connection to celebrities and powerful people in government. We have not been asked to make a presidential challenge coin yet, but we are ready for whenever the call comes! 
#2 — What Kind of Secrets Are Hidden on Challenge Coins?
When it comes to U.S currency, there are all sorts of rumors and conspiracies about secret messages hidden away in the paper bills and coins, but there is no real proof to back it up. Challenge coins, however, are completely custom made, and our customers like to add their own signature by means of a secret message or reference somewhere on the coin. Next time you get a custom coin, pay close attention because there may be more to it than readily meets the eye.
For this coin we designed with AlienVault, they asked for a very specific message to be included in the code around the rim of the coin. While we can’t reveal the secret, take a look and see if you can find out what it is (side note: there is more than one secret hidden in there).
Another example that we can give you the inside scoop on is this turtle-shaped bottle opener we designed for the 690th Cyberspace Operations Squad. The binary code written across the turtle shell translates to the word “cyber” in reference to the squad’s operation. Fun additions to a design like this make a coin extra special to the people who are in on the secret.
It is not always coins that hide secrets. We make all sorts of custom products including unique belt buckles, and the secrets our customers choose to hide are not always spelled out messages. Sometimes the secret is a small symbol or image. We have made several custom products for the Naval Medicine Training Support Center over the years, and if you look closely at this belt buckle we made for them, you will see a tiny butterfly hidden in the bottom right corner. The contact on the project asked us to include it as a personal signature for the design.
#3 — Where is the Only Place to Get Custom Video Game Coins Like These?
If you said E3 or some other kind of video game conference, then you are mistaken. Most military challenge coins are designed for a specific unit to share among teammates, but these video game challenge coins are simply meant to honor the service of our nation’s heroes. They are not meant to entice soldiers to buy a new game, but rather to be a unique thank you gift for their service. To make sure the coins are getting to the intended audience, the only way to get one is by purchasing the game through a military exchange on military property.
Video game companies are not the only ones making special coins to award to service members. We have designed coins for all sorts of businesses with locations on military bases that are looking to show their appreciation for military members all over the country. If you are looking for a special way to show your support for the troops, challenge coins are the perfect place to start.
#4 — Why Are Challenge Coins Charged With Electricity Before They Are Finished?
Making challenge coins is an intricate process. High polish gold coins like these are not made from pure precious metal. Instead, base metals like zinc, brass or steel are used to make coin “blanks” which are just bare metal coins with no design printed on them. Coin blanks have the design pressed into them and are then added to a liquid solution containing 24k gold. A strong electrical current is run through the liquid to adhere a thin, but permanent, layer of precious metal plating to the coin.
This is mostly a chemical process, and it does not really infuse your coins with the power of lightning, but it does require an electrical current to flow through the metal to make the coins look the way they do. Adding any sort of precious metal plating requires a careful process of adding an electrical current like this.
#5 — How Much Force Does it Take to Press a Design into a Coin?
If strength and quality are something you are worried about when ordering a set of custom coins, you can rest assured that our products can withstand pretty much anything. The machines we use produce anywhere between 150 to 300 tons of force. That is over 300,000 pounds of pressure just to transfer the design onto the coin face! It just goes to show how durable challenge coins are.
A manual screw press machine is only able to muster around 40 tons of force. The more powerful machines we have today allow us to press incredibly detailed and intricate designs into each coin. No matter what kind of press is being used, you definitely don’t want to get your hand stuck in there!
More Knowledge Means More Fun
Creating custom coins is an interactive and engaging experience. If you have your own collection of coins, or if you are just getting started in the world of challenge coins, knowing a little more makes the culture a lot more fun. Next time you are out with your friends, be sure to wow them with your inside knowledge about the coin industry. If you are looking to make a set of custom coins with our Signature Coins team, be sure to consider some of these fun facts as you get started. Are there any secret messages you want to hide in the design? Let us in on the secret and we’ll be happy to help make your coins a reality!
