Tips For Making Excellent Custom Challenge Coins

You might think designing a custom challenge coin is hard work. What with the thought, the art, and the creativity that goes into creating custom coins, it looks challenging. Yet it doesn’t have to be. With a little bit of planning, it’s a lot easier than it looks.

The Basics

There are several things to consider when ordering your challenge coins, ranging from the purpose of your coin to plating options, color, size and shape, among others. While the range of options and custom details might seem overwhelming, at ChallengeCoins4Less, we're here to help. It’s really not as intimidating as you might think.

Whether you’re designing your first challenge coin or the latest in your organization's history, we've put together a few helpful tips that will help make the design process smoother.

Consider the Purpose

First, consider the role of your coin. All challenge coins are designed with purpose, even the simplest of designs. Why are you making the coin? Do you want to  recognize a specific service? What individual or group do you want to honor? Is the coin a symbol of pride and camaraderie?

You are creating a symbol. Make sure it has a purpose and sends the message you mean to promote.

Think about who you want to present your custom challenge coins to. What will make the coins particularly meaningful to them? What emblems do you want to include? Looking at the concept of your coin first will also make choosing customization options easier.

Localize Your Design 

A challenge coin is a symbol of your organization. A flashy coin might add attraction, but localizing your design will make your custom coin more personal. Customizing your coin is the optimal way to express the character of your organization. Include text, imagery, or symbols that are significant to your organization and your area. Create something eye-catching and unique that recipients can be proud to carry or display.

Think About Size and Shape

The size of your coin is a key consideration, a balance between features and cost.  The larger the coin, the more space you have for your design. But larger coins cost more than small ones. Most challenge coins we make are between 1.5 inches and 2 inches in diameter. This size range allows good room for logos, text and images while maintaining an economical price.

That doesn’t mean your coins have to be round. We can create custom coins in virtually any shape you can imagine, from aircraft to ships to telephone booths. If it’s meaningful to you, we can make a coin in that shape.

For the Best Value, Watch for Price Breaks

As we noted, larger coins cost more than smaller ones. However, you can still save by considering price breaks at specific order quantities.

Here’s how it works; Any good coin provider offers price breaks at specific volumes. That can save you money by reducing the per-coin cost. For example, if you need 175 coins and your supplier offers a price break at 200 coins, it can be less expensive overall to order 200 coins, just because the price per coin is lower. That will reduce your total price.

Use High-Quality, Vectored Artwork 

The final look of your coin will greatly depend on the quality of your artwork. Our talented team of designers and graphic artists can help creating a great challenge coin. The better your starting artwork, the easier it will be to create a professional-looking coin to match your concept. High-quality vectored artwork makes the initial design easier to scale, and makes it easier to get the exact colors and features right. The clearer your artwork, the better your coin is sure to look upon delivery.

Choose the Right Font

Your choice of font affects the readability of your coin. For maximum legibility, be sure to choose the right size, style and if applicable, color, for your font. You don’t want your message to fade into the plating color. Our experienced staff can help you select the perfect font for your design.

Consider Plating Options

You have multiple plating options to choose from for your coins. Your choice sets the tone for your design. Polished gold, silver or copper gives your coins a bold, modern look, while antiqued versions lend your design a more subtle classic appeal. Consider your plating choice as the canvas for the rest of your design. Match your design colors and features accordingly.

Add Color For a Bold Look

Speaking of colors, they can add a touch of style to your design. Feel free to match your logo, school, team or squad colors to reflect your group. We offer up to five colors free, with additional colors available for a slight extra charge.

Depend on Us

At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure your custom coins look exactly the way you want and make exactly the statement you intend. 

We have more than 20 years’ experience crafting top quality coins, and our wide range of options make it easy to customize your coin design to perfection. Our experienced team will help you choose the right options, and our free revisions policy means you can experiment with your design until it’s exactly right.

Just as important, we stand behind everything we sell with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Should you find any product you buy from us to be defective in either materials or workmanship, let us know. We’ll replace it at no additional cost to you. It’s all part of our commitment to providing the best customer service you’ll find anywhere.

At ChallengeCoins4Less.com, we’re always happy to answer any questions you might have about custom challenge coins. Feel free to contact us any time. If you’d like to find out more, call us toll-free at (855) 272-8451, or email us. Ready to start with your design? Fill out our no obligation free quote form to receive a free digital proof of your design. Let us show you how easy it can be to create outstanding custom challenge coins!