Another Custom Option to Keep in Mind
The first thing people think about when designing a custom coin is how they’re going to get the artwork just right. Customizing the colors, plating, edging and even the shape of the coins will help you bring your ideas to life, but there is one custom option that a lot of people forget about: thickness.
Just like size and shape, challenge coin thickness is customizable. The average thickness of challenge coins is 3mm, but if you’re looking for a design with a little more weight behind it, upgrading to a 4mm coin will make a big difference. On the flip side, creating an extra thin design will result in something special that most people haven’t seen before.
Some coins require a thicker design, depending on the size of the coins and the artwork you have in mind, but no matter what type of coin you’re looking for, customizing the thickness of challenge coins is an excellent way to make a unique design.
Choosing a Thicker Coin Design
The biggest reason our customers choose something thicker than the standard 3mm coin is that they want the coins to feel heavier. The average challenge coin size is 1.75” in diameter, 3mm thick and weighs between 1.5 and 1.6 ounces. Increasing the thickness of the design to 4mm will increase the weight by about 33%.
Heavier coins feel sturdy and have a higher perceived value, making them an even more meaningful gift to any recipient.
Aside from making a coin feel heavier, choosing a thicker design will allow for more depth and detail. 3D coins, for example, have limitless potential for raised and recessed levels, but having a thicker coin design will allow for higher peaks and deeper impressions in the artwork. The result is a 3D design with amazing relief and realistic detail, like this alligator coin we designed for the United States Navy.
This coin is 8mm thick at its thickest point, giving our art team a lot of extra room to create a realistic design. To put it in perspective, the impressions in the alligator’s cheekbones are depressed 3mm into the metal, or, about the same thickness as a standard challenge coin.
Besides the increased depth and detail in the artwork, another advantage of thick coin designs is the extra space on the true edge. If you’re hoping to include a special engraving around the true edge of a coin, whether it’s a round coin or a custom shape coin, having a thicker design gives you more room to include bold, legible text.
Creating a Thin Challenge Coin
Customizing the thickness of your design is one of the best ways to change how the coins feel in your hand. It goes without saying that thicker coins will be heavier than your average 3mm coin, but not all customers are looking for a heavy design. Some people choose to go the opposite route by making a lighter, thinner coin design.
This coin is only 1.2mm thick and weighs a mere 0.4 ounces. When you hold the coin in your hand, it feels paper-thin and fragile, but the brass design is actually very sturdy. Having a thicker coin design may be the best choice for detailed 3D artwork, but having a coin thinner than 3mm doesn’t mean your design will be bland.
These coins have intricate impressions that create a striking design. The text around the edge tand in the center of the Arizona design on the back of the coin is colorfilled with black enamel to add contrast to the antique silver plating. However, it’s the signature at the center of the design that really stands out. It just goes to show that even if you decided to create something thinner than the standard 3mm, we’ll create something unforgettable for your team.
Customizing Challenge Coin Thickness
Challenge coin thickness is not the first thing that people think about when setting out to create a design, but the truth is that thickness plays a major role in any coin. Next time you're customizing a set of coins, remember to consider how choosing a thicker or thinner coin design will change things up.
A thicker challenge coin allows for more realistic 3D artwork and the added weight can increase the perceived value of the design, but sometimes creating something extra thin is the best way to leave a lasting impression. Whether you choose an extra heavy coin or a paper-thin design, we’re here to help.
