Tag: Military Challenge Coins

5 Unique Design Tips for Military Challenge Coins

Have you been wondering how military challenge coined are designed? Here are some fantastic design tips for crafting Military challenge coins.

It is believed that the first examples of the challenge coin took place in ancient Rome for a soldier performing well in battle.

Today, military challenge coins aren’t just for soldiers. They are actually a great way to commemorate other significant events and connections in your life.

They are not only a quality keepsake but can also be personalized with a unique design that is specific to your requests.

Have you been wondering how military challenge coined are designed? Here are some fantastic design tips for crafting Military challenge coins.

How to Use Military Challenge Coins

Military challenge coins have a long history in the military. They were originally offered by unit commanders as recognition for special achievements by someone in the unit.

High-ranking officers and retirees are known to display their collection of challenge coins with just as much pride as their patches and ribbons.

This continues to be an honor that the individual holds onto with pride. In modern times, challenge coins have become part of other circumstances and memorable events.

Businesses, units, and individuals carry on this tradition to commemorate people, special events, or causes. If you are looking for a unique way to reward attendees or promote your company, then challenge coins are an impressive way to do it.

You can even present military challenge coins to specific employees who go above and beyond in their work. This is a great way to thank employees and show you appreciate their efforts.

What You Need to Know

When creating a design on a military challenge coin, keep in mind that it is a small space to work with. You can most likely fit a small logo or image and a few words around the edge.

You may want to include a specific date to make it extra special and feel exclusive to your event. Keep in mind that this may mean you will have to print more coins for future events. You can also include a business motto or a person’s name.

Challenge coins can also represent a group of people or support a cause. You may want to put a short mission statement or the title of your cause.

It may be best to work with a graphic designer to reshape images into a round frame so the images and lettering look its best. If you can’t fit the whole design on one side you can also put a separate logo or phrase on the opposite side.

Choose Your Material

Challenge coins come in a variety of materials. This can affect the quality of the coin as well as the printed image so it’s probably one of the most important parts in your design.

Make sure the color, weight, and quality of the material complement the design on both sides of the coin. You may want to ask for proofs of each material to really determine what will look and feel best.

Maximize Space & Color

As with any marketing tool, a military challenge coin can act as a great advertisement for your brand and business. Therefore you should make sure your coin is consistent with your branding.

This could mean matching colors and logos. Be sure that the imagery is effective at that size before printing all of the coins. Also, when it comes to a small space, sometimes less is more.

Try to narrow down your messaging to only the most vital information. If you try to add too much to the coin it could look crowded and unprofessional.

Be sure to maximize the two sides by putting different information on each side. For example, you could put your company logo on one side and then use the other side to put the event information on.

Who Is Your Audience?

When it comes to creating the perfect piece of memorabilia for your event, you should also keep your audience in mind. Who will be receiving the coin? What would appeal to them? Does the coin have enough meaning that they will want to hold onto it for years to come?

If the coin doesn’t hold value to your target audience they may end up losing it or leaving it behind. Perhaps the coin has a special reminder on it that brings someone joy. Maybe it commemorates an event that the individual feels lucky to attend.

The reason for hanging onto the coin can be different for each demographic. So it’s important to determine what that incentive is while designing the coin.

Reach Out for Help

If you are working on a design and find yourself running into an issue, you can always reach out for help. Usually, the company producing your challenge coin will be able to help you with your design.

They are knowledgeable and experienced in challenge coins so they can offer design tips and know what will look good on the final product.

Not everyone can predict whether or not a certain logo or imagery will translate well onto a coin. So utilizing the help from experts can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

Ready to Start Your Military Challenge Coin?

Are you excited to get started on creating your very own military challenge coin? If you want to create your own unique design then we can help! We offer a wide variety of challenge coin designs to inspire you.

We also provide a range of prices and sizes to meet your budget and expectations. Create a keepsake they will be proud to hang onto! Check out our site to learn more.

What’s the Purpose of the Prestigious Military Challenge Coin?

The military challenge coin has become one of the most prestigious military and first responder markers of rank and camaraderie.

Did you know that more than 20% of veterans who served in either Afghanistan or Iraq suffer from severe PTSD and/or depression? 

What about the fact that, when many veterans return from their service, they feel as if no one appreciates the sacrifices that they’ve made for their country? 

Whether you have a veteran in the family, or just wish you could do more to show our members of the military how much you appreciate what they’ve done, there is one simple act that means a lot: giving a military challenge coin. 

What are challenge coins, and how will they help to show appreciation — and support — for those who have served? 

Keep on reading to find out. 

A Brief History of Military Coins

Let’s quickly discuss how the concept of a military challenge coin came about in the first place. 

There are two main conflicting narratives surrounding the birth of challenge coins — and you can believe whichever one you would like.

The Wealthy Pilot

Some people think the tradition got started when a wealthy member of the American Air Force in World War One wanted to thank the men in his unit for serving alongside him. 

He had bronze coins created for each man in his unit so that they would always remember their time together. He wore his coin in a pouch around his neck, and it protected him and made him feel close to everyone who fought alongside him. 

Unfortunately, his plane was shot down, and he was captured by German soldiers. He escaped, but the Germans stole everything but the pouch around his neck, which they hadn’t noticed. 

While on the run, he came across some French soldiers, who assumed he was German and planned to shoot him. He then showed these French soldiers his medallion, which had the American insignia around his neck. 

His challenge coin saved his life. 

The Vietnam Challenge

Other people believe the tradition of U.S. Army challenge coins began much more recently, during the Vietnam War. 

One of a unit’s favorite ways to pass the time was to head to a local bar while on leave or at the end of the day. The goal was to be able to prove that you’d been in combat. In some cases, they would hold up enemy bullets in the bar. 

If anyone couldn’t prove that they’d served, as a way to say “thank you”, they’d need to buy all those that had served a drink. 

Soon, soldiers and veterans alike started making challenge coins, and the tradition evolved into the “coin check” challenge many of us are familiar with today. 

The Modern Meanings of a Military Challenge Coin

It goes without saying that the meaning of a challenge coin usually contains a sentiment that’s directly related to the history of the person receiving it.

There are challenge coins for all different branches of the armed forces, and there are even designs created to build camaraderie between those who have served in medical units in the army. 

In the past, challenge coins were mostly seen as a way to create a greater sense of belonging and teamwork within units. 

In today’s world, though, they’ve taken on an additional meaning — one that has saved countless lives. 

Mental Health and Challenge Coins

In addition to PTSD and depression, as well as any physical injuries sustained in combat, there’s another very real threat to the safety of veterans — suicide. 

Sadly, many vets don’t always have access to the mental health care they need to process the complex and often frightening emotions that living in dangerous situations — and seeing difficult traumatic events — causes. Some cannot cope, and opt to take their own lives. 

We know that you’ll do anything to stop a veteran — whether or not they’re a member of your family or friend — from doing this. 

While it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs that someone might be suicidal, there is something else you can also do. 

Many people give veterans challenge coins to help ease the transition back into civilian life. These gifts for veterans carry an especially beautiful meaning. They let the veteran know that, should they ever need to talk or ask for help, you’ll be there for them. 

They don’t need to do anything more than simply slide their coin across the table to you, or show it to you. When they do, you’ll be ready to listen to what they’re going through. If they need immediate help, giving someone a coin means that you are ready to be the person they rely on. 

It’s a powerful and life-saving gift.

Are You Looking to Buy Challenge Coins Online? 

We hope that this post has helped you to better understand the meaning and prestige behind the idea of the military challenge coin. 

Whether your goal is to tell a soldier that you’re always willing to listen to them, or if you want to build friendships in your unit, a challenge coin always makes a great gift. 

Remember that these coins aren’t exclusively reserved for members of the military. They also make wonderful gifts for members of the police force, firemen and women, and others who help to protect and serve our country and communities. 

Additionally, they’re wonderful ways to promote a brand or even build teamwork among your employees. 

Spend some time browsing through our gallery of custom and pre-made challenge coins, and consider ordering some for the people you care about. 

5 Army Challenge Coin Design Tips that Make a Statement

The right army challenge coin design can make a lasting impression. Discover our top tips for creating a design you’ll be proud to show off.

Challenge coins have a rich history dating back to Ancient Rome. They are often associated with the military and commemorate big events, units, special accomplishments, and more. Even though most people associate these coins with the military, they aren’t officially recognized by them. This means that coins are instead created by units, companies, and even individuals.

Anyone can create a challenge coin to commemorate an event or honor a person. If you’re thinking about creating your own Army challenge coin, keep reading. We’re giving you five essential design tips to help you create the perfect challenge coin.

1. Tell a Story

Military Challenge Coin

The goal of a challenge coin design should always be to tell a story.

Maybe it’s the story of a unit, a specific deployment, or a location. Challenge coins can even honor a specific soldier or commemorate the date of an event. Before you start thinking about what your coin will look like, decide on the story you want to tell.

When you start utilizing other design tips on this list, you’ll have a better idea of what you want to focus on. This will also make it easier to communicate with a designer or artist about potential images and text for your coin.

Your story doesn’t need to be overly complicated. In fact, it’s usually best to keep it brief. If it is too broad, it can be tough to choose a specific detail to focus on when designing your challenge coin.

For instance, rather than trying to create a coin focused on a soldier’s entire military career, you could choose a single accomplishment. You could also focus on the individual by including a picture and the dates they joined the military and when they retired.

Either of these options will allow you to keep your image simple and the text short. We will go into more detail about why this is important later in the post.

2. Start with an Image

Custom Dragon Challenge Coin

Once you decide on the story your challenge coin will tell, the next design decision you need to make is what image you will use.

Most military challenge coins feature a picture or illustration in the center of the coin. It dominates the space, providing a focal point around which the text and other design elements are centered. Popular images include flags, aircraft carriers, unit logos, and the logos for various branches of the military.

But when it comes to custom challenge coins, the options you have for choosing an image are endless. As long as your image isn’t too large to fit on a coin or too detailed to come across clearly in the small space, you can make it the focus of your challenge coin.

Your chosen image could be a picture of military equipment, like an airplane or a ship, a building, a logo, or any other image. You could even include an illustration of a person’s face. You can also create a unique design, such as a caricature of a mascot or a sketch of an important building.

Depending on the size and type of images you choose, you may be able to shrink them down and include more than one on your coin. For instance, an image of a person or piece of equipment superimposed on an image of a flag or a map.

3. Make Your Design Pop with Color

USAF Custom Shaped Coin

While some military challenge coins are colorless and left in the color of the chosen metal coating such as bronze or silver, color can be a great way to make your design pop.

With such a small amount of space to work with, a few touches of color can help certain elements stand out from the rest. They create definition between shapes that make it easier to see the details of your image. While you can use several colors in your design, beware of going overboard. On a small coin, too many colors can make your design cluttered and tough to read.

In addition, complementary colors can help make your coin more aesthetically appealing.

4. Keep it Short

The image you choose for your challenge coin may be the focal point, but the text you choose is just as important.

Whether you choose to include a unit name, a date, or other important text, it’s best to keep your message short. Too many words mean you’ll need to use a smaller font, which can be tough to read on a small coin.

If you decide you need more words to get your message across, reduce the size of your chosen image instead of trying to squeeze everything onto your coin.

5. Don’t Neglect the Back

 

Once you’ve decided on the perfect design for the front of your challenge coin, it’s time to consider the space on the back. Leaving the back of your coin blank can leave your coin looking unfinished.

One idea for the back of your challenge coin is to include a single word or phrase. While the front of your coin might be more decorative with images and text, a less complicated back can call attention to your message.

Another option is to continue your design onto the back, making it as unique as the front of your coin.

Designing Your Own Army Challenge Coin

Now that you have a few tips for designing your own Army challenge coin, it’s time to get started.

No matter the type of coin you’re looking to design, we can help. Check out the different types of challenge coins we produce to start searching for the right options for any design elements you have in mind.

8 Great Gifts for Veterans They’ll Be Sure to Love

If the veteran in your life is in need of a pick-me-up or a birthday present, click here to check out these 8 great gifts for veterans that’ll make them smile.

Veterans Day is just around the corner. And that means trying to come up with the perfect gift for the veteran in your life.

Veterans are special people who deserve our utmost respect, yet shopping for veterans can often seem like a difficult task. But all it really takes is learning a few gift ideas that any veteran would love to receive.

Still need some help thinking of something great? Fear not, we are here to help!

Let’s take a look at some gifts for veterans day that you’ve likely never thought of.

8 Great Gifts for Veterans They’ll Be Sure to Love

If the veteran in your life is in need of a pick-me-up or a birthday present, keep reading to check out eight great gifts for veterans that’ll make them smile.

1. Tactical Beer Coozie

There are few things in life better than enjoying a cold one while hanging out with family and friends. And the best way to keep your cold one cold is with a beer coozie.

Well, you can thank Empire Tactical for taking a great idea and making it even better. Their Tactical Beer Coozie is the perfect blend of patriotism and practicality, featuring padded Thinsulate insulation wrapped in velcro, designed for attaching the patch of your choice and looking cool while you chill in the sun or beneath the stars.

2. The Original Whisky Bullet from SipDark

As the saying goes, it’s always five o’clock somewhere. And when it’s time to kick back with your favorite whiskey, you want it cold and smooth.

The Original Whiskey Bullet from SipDark keeps your beverage of choice ice cold without getting watered down. These stainless steel bullets come in sets of three and can be personally engraved for an additional fee. They can come with or without a stylish wooden display box.

3. Counter Strike Coffee

For many people, the morning can’t get started properly without a good strong cup of coffee. This is doubly true for anyone who has spent time in the armed forces. Coffee is a way of life.

That’s why Counter Strike Coffee makes the ideal gift for any veteran who needs his cup of Joe at first light. Counter Strike is premium coffee offered in a variety of blends. All beans are single origin, small batch and artisan roasted to maximize flavor.

Take one sip and we think you’ll agree that you won’t find a more full-bodied, smoother coffee anywhere.

4. Paratrooper Poptop

This is a super cool gift that is sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who enjoys a cold beer at the end of a long day.

This bottle opener is in the shape of a universal static line snaphook. Each one comes in a silk baggie made from a genuine decommissioned parachute.

This gift is hard to beat for any veteran but would find a special place in the heart with former Paratroopers.

5. Combat Flip-Flops

These flip-flops are flat-out unapologetically cool. Not only is this footwear perfect for chilling out anywhere from the patio to the beach, manufacturing them provides badly needed jobs for workers in Bogata, Columbia.

This is a unique business model that fulfills an important mission, both investing in people who desperately need the work and providing a great product for those who have served our country.

6. Military Challenge Coins

Challenge coins are not only fantastic mementos, but they also serve as symbols of a much higher purpose. These keepsakes are a reminder of service to our country and protecting the freedom each one of us enjoys daily, while also reminding us of the ultimate sacrifice that so many have made over the years.

Military challenge coins come in a variety of shapes and metal colors, including gold, silver, brass, black nickel, and copper.

There are numerous design options, including rope-cut, wave-cut or crosscut. And designs can incorporate specific insignia, dates, and special wording.

7. Mancrates

Mancrates are just about the coolest gift we can imagine. Available in wooden crates or ammo cans, they come loaded with every guy’s favorite stuff.

The vet in your life will undoubtedly hold a special place in his heart for the Outdoor Survival Ammo Can. This gift idea has everything needed for your next adventure.

The Outdoor Survival Ammo Can includes a survival guide that’ll teach you everything from how to start a fire with flint to how to navigate by the stars or moss on trees.

Its contents also include a collapsible shovel, a 50-foot paracord, an emergency survival blanket, and a paracord knife with firestarter.

This awesome gift will inspire almost anyone to want to abandon society for long stretches alone in the wilderness!

8. Cigars

Cigars always rank among the favorite gift ideas for vets around the world. Because few things in life are better than lighting a tasty cigar and telling stories of the glories of military life.

It’s hard to go wrong giving cigars. Just imagine the scene: old pals gathered together, with cigars and bourbon in hand, remembering shared memories of the good old days.

Nothing beats the aroma and flavor of quality tobacco. So put a smile on the face of your favorite vet with a box of great smokes!

Awesome Gifts for Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an important opportunity for each of us to show love and support for those who have selflessly serviced our amazing country. This is why picking the best gifts for veterans is so vital.

The freedom that we enjoy should never be taken for granted, and this list of gift ideas should make shopping for the vet in your life a little easier.

The men and women who serve in our armed forces should always be shown the love and respect they deserve for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. Anyone of these gifts would be a good start to show how much you truly appreciate them!

Click here to see six facts about military challenge coins you didn’t know.