Civilian Challenge Coins For Businesses, Brands & Organizations

Challenge coins may seem like small and simple items, but they mean a lot to those who receive them. Custom challenge coins tell a story, commemorate special events, locations, and people, and have a special place in military tradition. A challenge coin is a specifically designed coin typically presented to someone to confirm membership to an organization or group.

They are used for other reasons as well, such as honoring noteworthy accomplishments and milestones. While challenge coins began as a military-specific concept, they are now popular with businesses, schools, bands, nonprofit groups and many other organizations as well

Although challenge coins remain a military tradition, there has been a tremendous increase in civilian challenge coins in recent years. The unique coins are outstanding ways to advertise, honor group members, or commemorate special events.

You don't need to be a member of the armed forces to carry a challenge coin. It is helpful, however, to know a bit about their history, and the traditions, etiquette, and meaning behind these custom coins.

Challenge Coin History

While there's no definitive story of how challenge coins began, most people trace the origins of modern challenge coins to World War I. A lieutenant In the U.S. Army Air Corps gave custom-made bronze coins to all the members of his unit. According to the legend, a fighter pilot bearing a coin was captured by German soldiers and escaped, albeit with no identification. He was able to present his coin to French troops to prove he was an American, and they escorted him safely back to his unit. 

There is also a particular etiquette to challenge coins. They are not called challenge coins for no reason. You may have heard the phrase "coin check!" This is the basis for the challenge in challenge coins. A coin check means that anyone carrying a challenge coin has to present it. If you don't have your coin, you are responsible for the next round of drinks. If everyone has their coin, the person who issued the challenge buys.

Coin Rules

There are a few basic rules of challenge coins as well. First and foremost, keep your coin close at all times. If you are challenged and lose, you'll be stuck with that reputation moving forward. However, traditionally you can't be challenged more than once on an outing.

You also shouldn't pass your coin around. Tradition holds that If you hand it to someone, you give them your coin. If someone wants to inspect your coin closely, they can take a closer look while it is in your palm. This goes without saying, but do your best never to lose your coin. Replace lost coins as soon as possible! Don't forget, the challenge can happen anywhere, any time. Don't get caught off guard.

Uses of Coins Outside the Military

Now that you know the history, let's take a look at some of the ways non-military organizations and individuals can use challenge coins.  Many such organizations use challenge coins as marketing tools, a way to recoginze employee achievements, and more.

Challenge coins are a great way to acknowledge hard work and dedication, and to commemorate milestones, special days, and merchandise. For businesses, custom coin can promote brands, generate word-of-mouth interest, and build bonds with customers and staff alike.

Coins for Employee Recognition

Employee recognition goes a long way toward maintaining company morale and reducing turnover. Custom challenge coins are a distinctive way to honor hard work and celebrate achievement. You can present challenge coins to mark the completion of a significant project, a specific department's success such as hitting sales quotas, even as a way to introduce new product lines. Challenge coins are versatile enough to be used  to recognize virtually any such milestone.

Celebrating Years of Service

One popular use of challenge coins is to honor employee longevity on the job. Recognize dedicated employees with years-of-service coins. They show the employee you appreciate their contributions to the company. You're also giving them a memento they can carry with them or display with pride. Other employees also see that the company respects and recognizes their service.

Challenge Coins for Marketing

Challenge coins also give companies a way to stand out in a competitive marketplace. Custom coins can be added to merchandise collections or given away at conferences and trade shows. Your custom coins can include details that provide information for potential customers and clients.

Elements such as logos, a company name, a website,  and contact information can go a long way toward increasing your brand identity among potential customers. Challenge coins are an excellent way to differentiate your brand from the competition. They are also great as a "thank you" for customers, vendors, and employees.

The Right Coin Provider Makes a Difference

At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we have created memorable challenge coins of all kinds. We take pride in creating top-quality military challenge coins, but we also put that same pride into our corporate challenge coins. Every challenge coin is different, and that's what we love the best.

We can take your ideas and bring them to life as unique mementos for any reason. At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, you have complete creative control.  We will work with you to design and produce the perfect coin. We do not charge for the design process, artwork, or revisions, so you can be sure that your coins will look precisely how you want before production. Oh, and don't forget we offer free shipping to any address in the contiguous United States.

If you'd like to find out more about what custom challenge coins can do for your business or other organization, we're here to answer any questions you might have. Call us toll-free at (855) 272-8451, or email us.  If you already have a particular design in mind, feel free to fill out our no-obligation free quote form and we'll send you a free digital proof of your design. We're here to serve all your custom challenge coin needs. Let us show you how fast and easy ordering challenge coins can be!