Challenge Coins - Sunset Pins and Coins

Challenge Coins

September 30, 2023

How to Connect with the Challenge Coin Community

Have you heard of the Challenge Coin Community?

Yes, it actually does exist, and it extends beyond the military. An increasing number of Americans are trading and exchanging challenge coins. There’s a whole new breed of collectors, and their interests vary widely. Many favor traditional coin designs: military motifs, patriotic imagery, and so on. But others opt for unique coin creations, ranging from customized business coins to personalized wedding favors.

Some collectors belong to niche interest groups, such as movie, sports, or anime fandoms. Others are members of clubs, churches, or charity organizations. But all have one thing in common. They want a tangible way to showcase their interests and identities. Whether they plan to keep their coins in their pockets or display them on a stand or wall rack, they’re proud of these metal mementos. And they regard them as treasured keepsakes.

Ready to reach the growing community of challenge-coin enthusiasts? Before you move forward, decide which segment you want to target. Then find out where they hang out.

The US Military: Core of the Challenge Coin Community

Exchanging challenge coins has been a military tradition for decades. Some say the current trend began during the Vietnam War. Others claim it goes back much further. Whatever the case, modern members of the military take it very seriously. When a senior officer hands a challenge coin to a subordinate, it’s considered a great honor. It means the officer recognizes the recipient’s outstanding service, valor, or loyalty.

If this all sounds solemn and serious, well, it actually is. In fact, there’s a whole elaborate protocol surrounding these special coins. They must be kept in a safe place, such as a display case or shadow box. (Pockets and wallets are OK for temporary transport.) Holes cannot be drilled or punched into them, and they can’t be worn as jewelry – although they can be stored in a pouch and hung around the neck.

But please don’t be daunted by all this pomp and circumstance. Military challenge coins today aren’t just for vets and active duty. Anybody can purchase them online, at coin shops, or at other offline venues. Plus, any entrepreneur can have them manufactured for sale to anyone else, whether in or out of the military. So, if you’d like to cash in on the military-coin craze, feel free!

What’s More, the Military’s Just the Beginning

In recent years, the challenge-coin trend has spread to all parts of society. Although it’s still associated with military personnel, it’s also popular among police officers, firefighters, Scout troops, politicians, government officials, club members, corporations, trade associations, and similar groups. Plus, it’s becoming a trend among ordinary civilians who simply like to trade and collect meaningful mementos.

How to Reach the Community with Your Coins

As a challenge coin seller, how do you reach any or all of these target audiences? Figure out where they purchase their coins.

Amazon is a great place to start. As the world’s largest marketplace, it’s the first site many people turn when they’re looking for, well, anything. That includes challenge-coin collectors, who go there to shop for:

Classic military coins
Patriotic challenge coins
Police and sheriff challenge coins
Inspirational coins
Good Luck coins and more

As an Amazon FBA Seller, you can market your custom challenge coins to the interest group of your choice. It’s easy to get started. Simply sign up at Amazon for $39.99 per month plus seller’s fees.

eBay is another prime place for connecting with the community. Here collectors can find a wide range of coins including:

“Thank You for Your Service” coins
Reproductions of vintage military coins
Presidential challenge coins
Sports and athletic coins
Assorted whimsical coin collections with fun, colorful designs
Patron-saint challenge coins for police officers and firefighters
And much more!

The market is wide open, especially if you’re offering something a little bit different. To get started, go to the eBay website and sign up for an account.

Then there’s Etsy, the perfect venue for more unusual challenge coins such as:

Anime challenge coins
Customized coins for weddings and special events
Memento Mori coins
School and college coins
Decision coins (“flip to decide”)
Employee appreciation coins…

…plus every other kind of coin you can think of, including traditional military coins. If you have a unique design that appeals to a niche contingent of the Challenge Coin Community, you may want to offer it at Etsy. Get started at the “sell” page on the Etsy website.

Now Comes the Easy Part: Manufacturing Your Challenge Coins

Once you’ve decided on your market and determined your design, contact Sunset Pins & Coins at 1-800-890-2789. Our professional team of coin designers can work with even the most rudimentary concept.

Our seasoned account execs will help you decide what type of coin is best for your purposes: soft enamel, cloisonné, simple die-cut metal, or offset (photo-realism). We’ll be with you every step of the way, from initial idea through final delivery. In a matter of weeks, you’ll have your beautifully crafted coins, all ready to sell online or at crafts fairs, shops, and flea markets.

May 31, 2023

Custom Challenge Coins: Meaningful Mementos That Help Build Teams and More

adminChallenge Coins

Are you familiar with challenge coins? If you’re in the military or law enforcement, you’ve undoubtedly heard of them. You probably even own some.

But did you know that these distinctive coins are also used by other organizations, from schools and businesses to sports teams, nonprofits, and fan clubs?

What’s more, their popularity is growing – and with good reason. These classy commemorative coins provide an inexpensive yet meaningful way to boost morale, reward achievement, and build team cohesion. No wonder so many people love them!

What, Exactly, Are Challenge Coins?

Technically, they’re not coins at all. Though they’re often exchanged and bartered, they don’t function as official legal tender. Rather, these metal medallions serve a range of other purposes:

As identification in “coin check” challenges – more about this below!
As proof of membership in clubs or groups
As keepsakes and mementos
As treasured collectibles
As rewards recognizing years-of-service and/or special accomplishments
As awards for high-achieving students
As morale-building giveaways for sports teams or company employees
As promotional giveaways to build brand or product awareness

Like lapel pins, challenge coins are typically made of a soft yet sturdy metal like copper, iron, or brass. Also like lapel pins, they’re available in several versions:

Soft enamel – an affordable, colorful option with a richly embossed texture
Hard enamel – sleek and smooth, for that elegant cloisonné look
Die-struck (with no enamel color-fill) – simple and sophisticated
Offset printed – with amazing photo-realism

Unlike lapel pins, though, challenge coins aren’t meant to be worn, so they have no backings or clutches. Plus, they tend to be bigger – up to 4 inches tall.

What’s the Origin of Challenge Coins?

Nobody knows exactly when and where challenge coins first appeared. Some people say they once served as identification for members of persecuted religious groups. If you showed your challenge coin, you could gain admittance to the group’s secret meetings. Owning the special coin meant you were a bona fide member, not a spy attempting to infiltrate the group.

Other people trace challenge coins back to World War I. Supposedly a US flying squadron was stationed somewhere in France. The unit’s lieutenant gave solid bronze coins – each bearing the squadron insignia – to all of the airmen under his command. One young American pilot slipped his coin into a small leather pouch and hung it around his neck. Later he was shot down over enemy lines and captured by the Germans. Fortunately he escaped – stripped of all his IDs except his coin – and made his way back to French territory. However, the French officials thought he was a spy and prepared to execute him. That’s when the pilot pulled his bronze medallion out of his leather pouch and showed it to the French. They recognized his squadron’s insignia, realized that he was an ally, promptly spared his life – and gave him a bottle of wine!

Once the pilot was reunited with his squadron, he related his colorful experience. Thereupon a tradition was born. From then on, squad members could demand to see an airman’s challenge coin. If he couldn’t produce it, then all the drinks at the local bar were on him.

This “coin check challenge” became popular among members of the armed forces, both in the US and in Great Britain. The rules of the game varied, but in general they went something like this:

A fellow soldier or sailor would ask you to show your challenge coin (bearing your squad’s insignia).
If you couldn’t produce it, you’d buy your mates a round of drinks.
If you could produce your coin, but your challenger couldn’t, then he or she would buy the drinks.

In recent years, some military authorities have cracked down on drinking games like these. But the “challenge” concept persists. To this day, these keepsake coins are still used to ID club and group members – people who share special interests and experiences. Plus, military commanders still award them to service members in recognition of notable achievements.

As mentioned above, these cherished coins have a wide range of other uses, too. So, whether you’re rewarding your top employees, fundraising for a school or charity, trading collectible keepsakes, or hosting a family reunion, you’ll want to consider ordering challenge coins.

How to Place Your Order

Have a rough idea for a challenge coin? Need help finalizing your design? Our highly skilled artists can help. Simply send us your basic concept, and our designers will expertly transform it into finished digital artwork. Throughout the process, of course, you’ll get to vet and approve the design. We’ll make sure it exactly meets your specifications.

If you already have a digital design, so much the better. We’ll gladly work with your artwork to produce your custom coins.

In addition, you’ll need to determine:

Whether you’ll want soft enamel, hard enamel, die-struck, or offset coins
What size to order – anywhere from 1.5 to 4 inches
What quantity you’ll need, from 50 to 2,000
What metal you’ll want: brass, copper, or iron
Whether you’d like any additional decorative touches

If you’re not sure about any of these variables, talk to our representative. He or she can make recommendations based on your specific needs. Why not get started today?