Published on: 10 Oct 2018
Last modified on: 02 Aug 2024
Military challenge coins have a unique and long-lived history, and over the years countless designs have been created. Whether you're currently serving in the armed forces or you plan to someday, you may want to create one yourself.
Custom challenge coins inspire and honor the members of every military branch, past, present, or future. Why not create one to honor the men and women you serve with? Deciding on a challenge coin design can be tricky, though. Where do you begin?
To give you some inspiration, we've tracked down six unique, custom-designed coins. Take a look. You may get some ideas for your own custom challenge coin.
One unique design we came across was simple but instantly attention-grabbing. Why is that? The coin was in the shape of a cobra.
How could this coin not grab your attention, with its focused metallic strength? The great thing about this design is that it doesn't say anything--not with words, anyway. The front of the coin only holds the snake's image. But it definitely carries a story. What does the cobra represent? What was this coin given for?
This type of coin is perfect if you're looking for a conversation starter. If you would like to add some details as to why it was given, include the information on the back. This will allow you to commemorate the event or group it represents while still keeping that eye-catching look of a text-less image.
Military challenge coins come in all sorts of shapes, despite their being called coins. You don't have to stick to the round look--the snake design definitely didn't.
Another amazing design we found was in the shape of an anchor, complete with a chain hanging down throughout the design. Members of the Navy will love this nod to their chosen military branch. This design was sleek and elegant while nodding to the hard work of life at sea.
Is there a specific shape that would nod to what you're commemorating? If so, try implementing it into your design.
Challenge coins are meaningful no matter their shape, but there's no rule stating your coin has to be round. Shake things up by going with another shape--it can be entirely unique if you'd like.
For a nod to your specific group, why not design your challenge coin in the shape of a vehicle that's frequently used? Air Force members may appreciate a coin that's in the shape of the plane they usually fly. Or a ship-shaped coin would be appropriate for Navy members.
If you'd rather not use the entire vehicle in your design, you can still nod to the specific military branch by using part of the vehicle. A wing or an anchor will make it easy to tell what branch the coin was made for.
To make your challenge coin unique, include your own combination of messages, information, memories, colors, and more. If a vehicle shape isn't unique enough for you, create a shape that's all your own!
If you'd like your design to be interactive, get inspired by a coin that spins inside itself. This coin design features a rectangular frame, in the center of which is a coin section that spins, thanks to an axis that keeps it safely connected to the frame. The spinning section could hold whatever you'd like. Maybe it's a regiment number or the year and name of a specific battle.
If your desired info won't fit in the small centerpiece, that's okay. You've still got the frame are to include words and dates.
If your coin will commemorate an event, such as a Marine ball, get inspired by looking at ticket-style challenge coins. These coins come shaped just like the tickets you'd get for an old movie or Ferris wheel ride. Feel free to throw a big old "admit one" on one side, just like the designs we've seen. The other side of your coin can include your commemorative information.
We'd suggest adding information about the event itself, to remind you what you were "admitted" when you got the coin. You can also add troop or branch information. Insignia or other symbols would look great too.
For an added nod to the movie-theater feel, consider making your text flow like the end credits of a film.
Maybe one of the most unique coins we came across was the least flashy of all. In fact, it was completely plain. All it showed was the silver shape of a helmet.
This sort of simplicity will really make your coin stand out. While others tend to involve color, aggressiveness, or other flashy design elements, this one came across as almost solemn.
This particular coin held the shape of a Spartan helmet, but there are plenty of other helmets to choose from. Why not use a traditional shape of headwear that represents your military branch?
Though simple and silent, this design lets viewers know what branch it represents while letting them reflect on what it means. If you're looking for a thought-provoking pin, go for something simple that reminds the barer and any viewers why it was created in the first place.
View other custom and unique challenge coins designs to get even more inspirations for your next custom challenge coin design.
Challenge coins are highly versatile. They come in all shapes, designs, colors, and metal types. The sky's limit when it comes to creating your own design.
These six coins each offer unique ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Keep them in mind when creating your own challenge coin design and see what you come up with!
We specialize in creating unique challenge coins. If you'd like to create your own custom challenge coin, we'd love to help. Click here to learn more about our military challenge coins.
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