Custom challenge coins started out in the military, but today you can find them in all kinds of different places. Nonprofits use them to raise money, universities use them to inspire school spirit, and businesses use
corporate challenge coins
to show recognition and appreciation to their best employees. Just like a superior officer hands out military coins to the soldiers in their command, leaders in business award company coins to their team members as a sign of respect and honor.
What was once a military-only tradition has now spread to just about every industry imaginable. No company is too big or too small to make use of corporate challenge coins. In fact, it’s often our corporate customers who come up with some of the most interesting and innovative uses for their challenge coins. What can you and your business partners come up with for your order?
The spur edge is one of the free edge options we offer. It's one of the edge options that work to change the look as well as the feel of your coins.
Corporate Coins
Facebook Data Centers
The 3D mold used to create this Facebook coin is an image of their new global security data centers. The only soft enamel on the coin is color matched to Facebook's specification.
Challenge Coins
C-130 Hercules Division Side 2
Challenge coins without any color at all might not be as common, but this antique gold coin is a perfect example of how to create a striking design without needing any color at all.
Employee Recognition
Diced Coin Side 2
Esse Quam Viderie is a Latin phrase meaning "to be, rather than to seem." These employee recognition coins were designed for a restaurant called Diced, and the Latin phrase was chosen because it's the motto of their home state: North Carolina.
Corporate Coins
Google-Challenge-Coins28 copy
Google-Challenge-Coins28 copy
Corporate Coins
Bank of America
For brands like Bank of America, their logo is enough to make the coin immediately recognizable. That fact didn't stop this customer from selecting a high polish silver plating to increase the coin's perceived value and black enamel to add contrast to the outside edge.
Corporate Coins
PayPal Coin
When working with well-known brands, getting the colors exactly right is crucial because if the color is off even a little, everyone who sees the coin will know it. This high polish silver coin from PayPal uses the exact Pantone colors from the company's brand guidelines to avoid that sort of thing.
Create Coin
Texas State Technical College
Coins with a lot of text will always be more legible with antique plating than high polish. This coin from the Texas State Technical College System also makes use of a custom designed edge.
Corporate Coins
Cybersecurity Defense Center Challenge Coin
Cybersecurity Defense Center Challenge Coin
Corporate Coins
Microsoft Coin
This corporate coin from Microsoft uses color for the logo and no other aspect of the coin. The enamel is also Pantone color matched to make sure it fits Microsoft's unique brand guidelines.
Corporate Coins
GE Coin
This coin from General Electric makes use of the company's brand-specific blue for the logo on the front face. Interestingly enough, even though the back makes use of several different shades of blue, that particular color isn't repeated anywhere else on the coin face.
Corporate Coins
Coca-Cola Safety Matters
This Coca-Cola coin makes use of the Pantone Color Matching system to make sure that the colors perfectly match the established brand colors Coca-Cola has used for years.
Corporate Coins
Google-New-Datacenter-Challenge-Coins21-no bg
Google-New-Datacenter-Challenge-Coins21-no bg
Corporate Coins
Google-Belgium-Challenge-Coins
Google-Belgium-Challenge-Coins
Corporate Coins
Facebook Global Security
The Pantone matched Facebook blue is the centerpiece of the back face of this coin.
Corporate Coins
Facebook Global Security Side 2
The Pantone matched Facebook blue is the centerpiece of the back face of this coin.
Commemorative
FM Global
The message on the front of this coin is completed on the back face. The simple purple and high polish silver design of this coin belie the great idea of joining the front and back of your coin with one direct message.
Corporate Coins
Los Angeles Intl Airport - Siemens - Translucent - AS - Rope Coin Front
Los Angeles Intl Airport - Siemens - Translucent - AS - Rope Coin Front
Corporate Coins
Los Angeles Intl Airport - Siemens - Translucent - AS - Rope Coin Back
Los Angeles Intl Airport - Siemens - Translucent - AS - Rope Coin Back
Corporate Coins
Alienware Computers Coin
This antique gold coin was created for Alienware and is only available through their site or by running into them at a convention.
Corporate Coins
Coors light bottle opener front
Coors light bottle opener front
Corporate Coins
Coors light bottle opener back
Coors light bottle opener back
Corporate Coins
Coca-Cola Safety Matters
This Coca-Cola coin makes use of the Pantone Color Matching system to make sure that the colors perfectly match the established brand colors Coca-Cola has used for years.
Corporate Coins
Gatorade Coin
The oblique edge of this high polish silver Gatorade coin gives the coin a unique look and feel. Each oblique line in the edge is cut individually.
Corporate Coins
Gatorade Coin Side 2
The oblique edge of this high polish silver Gatorade coin gives the coin a unique look and feel. Each oblique line in the edge is cut individually.
Corporate Coins
Gatorade Indianapolis challenge coin front
Gatorade Indianapolis challenge coin front
Corporate Coins
Gatorade Indianapolis challenge coin back
Gatorade Indianapolis challenge coin back
Corporate Coins
Vanquish Coin
If you look closely at the custom rope edge on this corporate coin, you can see that the intricate pattern of the edging has been colorfilled with black enamel. Usually, the rope pattern stamped into the edging of a coin is raised, but this coin flips that on its head by recessing the custom edge to create a unique effect.
Corporate Coins
McDonald's Company Coin
This antique gold McDonald's coin doesn't include any color in its text-heavy design, allowing the text to come through clearly.
Corporate Coins
McDonald's Company Coin Side 2
This antique gold McDonald's coin doesn't include any color in its text-heavy design, allowing the text to come through clearly.
Challenge Coins
Godiva Renaissance
This coin from Godiva and Renaissance make use of high polish gold plating and a flat weave edge to convey a sense of wealth.
Corporate Coins
Public Company Coin
In addition to its classic design, one of the amazing things about this Publix coin is the fact that we created and delivered the order of 100 coins to the customer in three days.
Challenge Coins
Godiva Renaissance Side 2
This coin from Godiva and Renaissance make use of high polish gold plating and a flat weave edge to convey a sense of wealth.
Corporate Coins
First "Coopertition" Coin
This coin from FIRST perfectly embodies the company's ideals of Coopertition without needing much space or an abundance of upgrades to get the point across.
Corporate Coins
Home Depot Challenge Coin Side 2
When it comes to making Fortune 500 challenge coins like this Home Depot coin, we make sure to use the same PMS colors the company uses for their brand. The bright orange apron and hat are easy to recognize even before you see the company logo.
Corporate Coins
Home Depot Challenge Coin
When it comes to making Fortune 500 challenge coins like this Home Depot coin, we make sure to use the same PMS colors the company uses for their brand. The bright orange apron and hat are easy to recognize even before you see the company logo.
Corporate Coins
ACE Hardware Company Challenge Coin Front
ACE Hardware Company Challenge Coin Front
Challenge Coins
Microsoft Coin
This corporate coin from Microsoft uses color for the logo and no other aspect of the coin. The enamel is also Pantone color matched to make sure it fits Microsoft's unique brand guidelines.
Corporate Coins
ACE Hardware Company Challenge Coin Back
ACE Hardware Company Challenge Coin Back
Corporate Coins
Newark Chief Pilot Office 3D Challenge Coin front
Newark Chief Pilot Office 3D Challenge Coin front
Corporate Coins
Newark Chief Pilot Office 3D Challenge Coin back
Newark Chief Pilot Office 3D Challenge Coin back
Challenge Coins
Leviton Coin
While recessed sandblasting is most often used to add contrast to high polish coins, it can also be used to create a texture on antique plated coins. These antique gold coins from Leviton also make use of a standard flat edge so the customer could design their own custom edge.
Corporate Coins
COMPCO First Responders
This high polish gold coin from Compco Industries was created to honor first responders. The stars on the edge of the back coin face are custom.
Challenge Coins
McDonald's Company Coin
This antique gold McDonald's coin doesn't include any color in its text-heavy design, allowing the text to come through clearly.
Corporate Coins
Ritz Carlton Challenge Coin front
Ritz Carlton Challenge Coin front
Corporate Coins
Ritz Carlton Challenge Coin Back
Ritz Carlton Challenge Coin Back
Corporate Coins
Ripple Coin
Ripple ordered this high polish gold coin to celebrate the debut of their unique cryptocurrency. The high polish plating increases the perceived value of the coin.
Corporate Coins
New York New York hotel and casino challenge coin back
New York New York hotel and casino challenge coin back
Corporate Coins
New York New York hotel and casino challenge coin front
New York New York hotel and casino challenge coin front
Corporate Coins
377674 - Heart of America-RCFL-crime-forensics-black-nickel front
377674 - Heart of America-RCFL-crime-forensics-black-nickel front
Corporate Coins
377674 - Heart of America-RCFL-crime-forensics-black-nickel back
377674 - Heart of America-RCFL-crime-forensics-black-nickel back
Challenge Coins
Agile Empowerment Technologies
A standard flat edge is the perfect place for additional coin text. This coin from Agile Empowerment Technologies keeps the center simple while putting the important information around the edge.
Corporate Coins
PXL_20220125_202139918.PORTRAIT-2
PXL_20220125_202139918.PORTRAIT-2
Challenge Coins
Agile Empowerment Technologies Side 2
A standard flat edge is the perfect place for additional coin text. This coin from Agile Empowerment Technologies keeps the center simple while putting the important information around the edge.
Corporate Coins
PXL_20220125_202130391.PORTRAIT-2
PXL_20220125_202130391.PORTRAIT-2
Corporate Coins
Orlando Castaways Tesla Challenge Coin Back
Orlando Castaways Tesla Challenge Coin Back
Challenge Coin Customer Reviews
What are Company Challenge Coins?
Company challenge coins are created to celebrate important achievements, show appreciation for staff and build camaraderie among teammates. If you’re looking for a custom coin maker with years of experience working with everything from mom and pop shops to the top Fortune 500 companies, you’ve come to the right place. Every business has its own way of incorporating company coins into the workplace and their own preference for design. What this means is that no two custom corporate coins are ever the same thanks to the ideas and inspirations behind every design.
Using Corporate Coins in the Workplace
Some of the most popular uses for corporate challenge coins include employee recognition programs, years of service awards and team building events. The Coca-Cola company is famous for its safety coins. Employees at different bottling plants around the country are given special corporate coins as a symbol of appreciation for their commitment to safety in the workplace.
Taking time to recognize employees is a crucial step to building an engaged staff and productive company culture. While safety is always an important topic, not all companies make coins for safety alone.
Years of service coins honor more than just time spent at a company: They acknowledge the value of hard-working employees and show appreciation for the commitment to the team. Often times, companies will create an entire series of corporate challenge coins dedicated to years of service with each tier having a slightly different design.
These are just two examples of how different companies use custom corporate coins. We have also worked on business card coins, coins for special occasions like retirements or promotions, and coins that celebrate important company milestones or anniversaries. Whether you plan on using your company coins at a conference, a company picnic or at some other time, our Signature Coins team has everything you need to get started on the perfect design.
Customizing Your Company Coin Design
Creating your own corporate challenge coins is quick and easy. To get started, send us a few of your design ideas by filling out one of our free quote forms. This is where you can let our team know your deadline for the project, how many company coins you need and include any artwork or images needed for your design.
The artwork is completely customizable, but most corporate coins use a company’s brand as a starting point for the design. This includes logos, emblems and colors that represent a company. Our art team has experience recreating all kinds of different brand artwork and even uses the Pantone Color Matching System to ensure the design is consistent with the established image of a company.
Whether you choose to include your company’s brand in a coin design, or opt for something with a little more personal flair, all we need to get started are a few of your ideas. Anything from a simple sketch on the back of a napkin to a bullet list of ideas is enough to get started. Downloading a free challenge coin template is a great way to keep your ideas organized.
Custom challenge coins cost anywhere from two to five dollars a piece depending on how many you order and what kind of options you include in the final design. Feel free to check our pricing page for a breakdown on different size orders. Artwork and revisions are all free, so consider trying out multiple plating, edging and sizing options to see what works best for your design before finalizing your order.
Ordering Your Own Custom Corporate Coins
Our Signature Coins team has been designing and minting corporate challenge coins since the year 2000. You don’t need to be a part of the Fortune 500 to benefit from a set of custom corporate coins. We’ve helped businesses of all shapes and sizes create the perfect coin designs for their staff, used in all kinds of different ways.
f you’re ready to get started on your own set of company coins, send us your ideas today. Our team will have your first free proof of artwork ready within 48 hours. We want to make sure our customers don’t pay a dime until they are completely satisfied with the artwork, so make as many revisions as you need until the artwork is just right.
Your employees are the foot soldiers of your company, constantly working to make your business better. Send us your company coin design ideas today and reward their dedication with a personal and meaningful gift.
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.
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.