A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating The Perfect Custom Challenge Coin

Custom challenge coins have many uses. From their military origins, they have become versatile enough to serve as superb marketing tools, achievement honors for business and academia, and even perfect gifts for friends and loved ones.

You might think designing and ordering custom coins is a complicated process. We’re happy to report that it’s not. At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we make designing challenge coins fast and easy. We’ll help you craft the perfect challenge coins for your specific needs, no matter what your budget or preferred style.

Let’s take a look at a few basic steps for creating the perfect custom challenge coins.

Start With An Idea

Like everything else, a challenge coin design begins with an idea. You have something you want to commemorate, or someone you want to honor with a coin. That’s perfect! Think about that specific event or person, and what’s relevant to them.

For example, let’s say you want to create challenge coins to celebrate your company’s 100th anniversary. Think about the images you want to use to represent it. Do you have a picture of the original building, or even the founder(s)? Put them on the coin!

Similarly, if you want to honor an individual or group for a specific achievement such as creating a new product or meeting sales goals, be sure to include images or text about that in your design.

What Do You Want to Show?

Next, consider what you want your coins to show. If it’s important to include a particular logo or unit insignia, start with that. Then fill in more details around it. Don’t worry if you don’t have a full design to start. We can work with anything from a bare-bones sketch to a completely finished design.

Size and Shape

Now, think about the size of your custom coins. Do you want something small and easily carried, or something bigger with more room for detailed design art? The most popular size for challenge coins is usually 1.75 inches to 2 inches. Generally speaking, the bigger the coin, the more detail you can include. The tradeoff, of course, is the bigger the coin, the more it will cost. Our experts will help you balance the size of your coins and your budget needs.

When it comes to coin shapes, you have lots of options too. Although round is the most common shape for challenge coins, we can create coins in virtually any shape you can imagine. Whether you want coins in the shape of a star, a ship, a fighter jet, a building or just about anything else on earth, we can make it happen. Feel free to think outside the circle!

Make The Most of Metal Finishes

Now you’re ready to choose the type of metal finish you want for your coins. We offer a range of metal finishes, both polished and antiqued. You can also combine metal finishes for a two-tone look. Antique finishes highlight text and give your coins a classic look, while polished coins make your design pop.

Consider Adding Color

The metal finish of a challenge coin offers a classic, finished look on its own. Adding color to your design, however, can make it more distinctive. This is particularly true if you want to reproduce a specific unit insignia or corporate brand logo.

At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we offer your choice of up to five colors at no extra charge. Take advantage of that to add colorful details that will really make the visual appeal of your coins “pop.” We can even add more colors at a slight extra cost if you’d like.

Options To Consider

Now that you have the basics of your design set, you’re ready to consider possible options. Your coin design is as unique as you are. If you want to add more ways to make your design even more distinctive, there are multiple ways you can do that.

Custom Cut Edges

Custom diamond-cut edges offer a special look and feel and are always a great way to make your design even more elegant. They offer additional facets to reflect light and make your coins even more eye-catching. Popular edge options include rope cut, cross cut, wave cut and more.

3D Design

A 3D coin can give your coins much more visual power. This style literally makes your custom coin stand out by raising part of the design above the coin surface. It’s a dramatic look that emphasizes specific aspects of your image.

Custom Cutouts

Another great way to give your coins an extra “wow” factor is with custom cutouts. Adding open space is a bold way to highlight the specific elements of your design.

Engraved Text

Add an extra motto or personalized message with text engraved around the edge of your coins.

Sequential Numbering

Want to give your coins an extra touch of exclusivity? Add sequential numbering to create a true limited edition.

A Word About Cost

You might be concerned about the price of your challenge coins, and have a budget you need to work within when you order. Don’t worry. No matter your budget, we will work with you to ensure you receive outstanding challenge coins at a price you can afford. Our talented, experienced artists will help you craft the ideal coins for your specific event, occasion or group.

The Bottom Line

While all these choices might sound daunting, our experienced staff will be glad to explain them to you in detail, to help you order exactly the coins you want. We’ll work with you every step of the way from the original design to delivery of your finished custom coins. We make ordering fast, easy, and even fun.

Ready to find out more? Call us toll-free at (855)272-8451, or email us with any questions you might have. If you already have a design in mind, fill out our no-obligation free quote form and we’ll send you a free digital proof of your design. You’ll be surprised how easy ordering challenge coins can be. We’re here to serve all your custom coin needs!