Creative Challenge Coin Elements To Enhance Your Event

CIn the never-ending sensory “noise” of today’s world, promoting or celebrating an event can be difficult. It’s sometimes hard to break through all the clutter of cell phones, TV images, tablets and even print media to get your message to the right audience.

One way to get your message across is with custom challenge coins. They are an outstanding way to promote a sense of community. They are also excellent for showing support for service members, employees, and volunteers. Over the years, custom challenge coins have grown in popularity as marketing tools, recognition tokens, celebratory mementos and more for companies, industries, and even non-profits. They are a well-recognized way to enhance virtually any recognition or commemorative event.

The Appeal of Challenge Coins

Challenge coins originated in the U.S. military as a way to commemorate achievement, denote membership in specific squads or teams, and build camaraderie among service members. In recent years, more and more civilian organizations, including businesses, schools, nonprofits, government agencies and others have recognized their appeal as well. Indeed, they have become popular enough to be reported on in newspapers, on television and even on podcasts.

It’s easy to see why. Challenge coins give the recipient a physical representation of their recognition, something they can proudly carry with them every day or display at work or at home.

The artistry of challenge coins is another key factor. With the right design, they can become miniature works of art, with distinctive beauty and style.

Last but certainly not least, custom coins make excellent fundraising products. They give donors a tangible example of what their dollars support.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to use challenge coins to promote your event or honor recipients at an event. With a little bit of forethought, it’s easy to create outstanding coins and present them in a way that your guests will be sure to appreciate.

Consider Limited Editions

Limited editions of your custom challenge coins will maintain an air of exclusivity to your event, and will increase the demand for the coins. Especially if sequentially numbered, these coins can significantly increase your revenue if you’re using them for fundraising purposes.

Decide How to Present Your Coins

Part of the appeal of challenge coins is in the presentation. In the military, it tends to be a low-key affair, often just a handshake in which the coin transfers. For larger events, it doesn’t have to be. You can create a public presentation honoring individuals or groups in auditoriums, stadiums, workplaces, or just about anywhere else you want. The actual presentation can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make it.

Designing Challenge Coins for Your Event

Keep the Recipient(s) in Mind

When designing your coins, consider who will receive them and why. Do you want to honor a community member for their dedication to a cause? Celebrate an employee’s hard work and dedication? Sell the coins to raise funds for an educational program?

Think about what will be meaningful to the people who receive your coins. Choose text and imagery relevant to them. Let that be the basis for your design.

Coin Sizes Are Up to You

You can order custom coins in a wide range of sizes. The most popular sizes are 1.75” to 2”, but they can be smaller or larger to suit your budget and messaging needs. Larger coins will give you more room for your art and text, enabling a greater level of detail.

Think Outside the Circle

Challenge coins are most often round, but you’re not limited to that or any other shape. You can have coins made in virtually any shape you can imagine. School buses, telephones, aircraft, vacuum cleaners, you name it. If you can imagine it, you can create a custom coin in that shape. Don’t be afraid to think outside the circle!

Coin Finishes and Color

Once you have the design in mind, consider your possible finish choices. Would you rather go bold with polished black nickel, or classic with antiqued gold or silver? You can select from those and other finishes for your design, and even duo-tone options. Each one offers its own unique characteristics. Your coin provider can help you choose the perfect finish for your design.

Next, think about adding color to your design. You might have a specific logo or brand that you want to reproduce, or maybe a great new image that would look terrific with a pop of color. At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we offer your choice of up to five colors free. If you need more, you can add them for a slight additional charge.

Living on the Edge 

We offer a full range of options for custom challenge coins. One very popular option is diamond-cut coin edges.  Edge details are beautiful, small additions that add to the appeal of your coin design. 

You have multiple edge styles to choose from. The classic oblique cut edge adds reflectivity and gives your coins a sense of movement. A rope cut adds a naval appearance. A cross-cut design adds brilliance by giving your coins greater reflective areas. There are other options as well. Ask your sales representative for details.

Adding custom edges to your coins will also give your coin a different overall feel, offering a unique approach to the design in the process. It's all about the details when it comes to custom challenge coins!

Ready to Order?

If you’d like to discover how custom challenge coins can enhance your event, we’re here to help. Our team of talented graphic designers and artists will work with you every step of the way to ensure you get exactly the custom coins you want. Call us toll free at (855) 272-8451, or email us to find out more. 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.  Let us show you how custom challenge coins can enhance your next event, and how easy and fast ordering them can be!