A United states military Tradition.
Military Award Challenge Coins
Honor a Soldier’s Valor With More Than Just a Ribbon
When a member of any branch of the U.S. Military performs an act of extreme valor, that person will earn a Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration. It’s presented by the president of the United States in the name of Congress. In order to qualify for the Medal of Honor, a soldier must have risked his or her life while going above and beyond the call of duty. A Medal of Honor is earned, not bought or given.
In this sense, the various military awards and decorations available to soldiers are not unlike military custom challenge coins. A tradition dating back to WWI, challenge coins are earned by servicemen and women through exceptional service and for achieving particular career milestones. These coins are never given out flippantly, and being granted one comes with a high level of pride and honor. This is why the earning of a military award should be coupled with a custom challenge coin.
At Signature Coins, we pride ourselves on being able to provide unsurpassed customer service and unsurpassed quality of product to our U.S. Military customers. We’ve created custom challenge coins for units, battalions, and specific missions for over 15 years. Our customers within every branch of the military continue returning to us year after year because they know they’re sure to get the best service and a custom coin that perfectly meets their specifications. Give us a call today and let us get started on creating your unique military award challenge coins.
America’s Oldest Military Honor: The Purple Heart
Even though it wasn’t until 1932 that the Purple Heart started being used in the manner that we understand it today, the award itself dates all the way back to the American Revolution. General George Washington first pinned the honor on three soldiers for their invaluable contributions to the war effort.
However, after this initial moment, the award was forgotten for nearly 150 years. By the time WWI came around, the Medal of Honor was the only award granted to U.S. soldiers. However, seeing the abundance of awards available to European soldiers led the American military leadership to reconsider the number of medals available.
It was a few decades later that the suggestion of reviving General Washington’s original Purple Heart merit was suggested. In this new iteration, it was decided that the Purple Heart would be “awarded to persons who, while serving in the Army of the United States, perform any singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service.” As an addendum, it was also decided that “A wound, which necessitates treatment by a medical officer, and which is received in action with an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act of such enemy, may…be construed as resulting from a singularly meritorious act of essential service.”
The first version of the Purple Heart as we know it today was born of this decision, but even then, it was still just an honor reserved for members of the Army. Over time, it would be expanded to include all members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The field of awards available to be earned by military personnel would also be expanded over the years.
Some of the specific honors and awards available include:
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation (PUC)
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Combat Readiness Medal
- Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM)
- Air and Space Campaign Medal (ASCM)
When you couple the presentation of any of these medals with a custom military award challenge coin, you present the soldier with two different items they can be proud of. The medals are often placed in display cases and left at home, while the challenge coins can be carried around and shown off with pride.
Ready To Get Started?
Ready To Get Started?
Custom Army Challenge Coin Gallery
Delivering Our Own Exceptional Service
At Signature Coins, we know how busy our customers are and how much thought and planning goes into the presentation of military awards. That’s why we’ve worked hard to streamline our order and delivery process to three easy steps. We keep things simple to ensure that your customer service experience is as seamless and pleasant as possible.
The simple three steps of the Signature Coins order process include:
- Step one, either call or fill out one of our forms found on this page for a free quote and to receive free artwork on your order. We will have a proof ready for you to view within 24 to 48 hours.
- Step two, let us know what you think. If there are any changes you would like us to make, or any details you would like us to add, we are happy to oblige. We offer FREE unlimited revisions on every order so as to give you every possible opportunity to bring your vision to life!
- Lastly, finalize your order. Once the artwork is to your liking and a quote has been settled on, production will begin on your custom coins. On completed orders, you can expect your coins to arrive within 14 business days. We include free UPS Air Priority shipping on all orders, so as soon as your coins are finished, they will be on their way.
- It’s just that easy!
Let Signature Coins Help Create Your Military Award Challenge Coins
It’s with a great level of respect that Signature Coins has spent the last 15+ years creating custom challenge coins for the men and women in the U.S. Military. The hard work and dedication it takes to serve the country is not something we take for granted. In that sense, we want to recognize the great feats and acts of valor that led to the earning of such important military awards and distinctions with the presentation of challenge coins in addition to the medals themselves.
When you partner with Signature Coins for your military award challenge coins, you’ll be embarking on a relationship that will last a lifetime. We’re very happy for this chance to earn your business for this project as well as all of your future challenge coin needs. Give us a call or fill out the free quote request form today to get started.