Military Honors: Military Medals, Badges, and Challenge Coins
Throughout history, the U.S. Armed Forces have primarily utilized medals, service ribbons, and distinct badges to acknowledge the military dedication and individual accomplishments of its members. These accolades serve as a means of showcasing notable moments in service members' careers.
With origins dating back to the era of World War II, Challenge coins have also been integrated into military traditions for those who are associated with the military.
- Custom Medals - Custom Medals are bestowed as honors for exemplary conduct, participation in specific campaigns or expeditions, or non-combat contributions. Certain medals and ribbons carry more prestige and significance than others. They contribute to a service member's overall rank and record.
- Custom Pins- These pins are usually worn on the chest to identify skills or accomplishments in their job field and what rank they hold. Insignia — often made of metal and sometimes very shiny ones, the markers that every professional tries to show off their expert work, which each individual possesses as proof in real life.
- Military Challenge Coins - The challenge coin, a coin featuring an organization's emblems, is carried by members of the organization. Its historical roots lie in its role as proof of membership and a morale booster when invoked.
What's a Challenge Coin?
You may get a little curious about challenge coins. They are metal commemorative coins with images on both sides and often a unit code on the rim.
The Origin of Challenge Coins, Historical Stories
The origin of challenge coins can be traced back to the ancient Roman period when there was a soldier who was rewarded for his bravery in protecting the kingdom.
The use of challenge coins in military culture has two different versions of origin, the story of a Pilot's Challenge Coin During World War II and the story of Challenge Coins During the Vietnam War
The challenge tradition remains effective to this day and has evolved into a mature set of challenge game rules, becoming a part of military culture.
How Are Challenge Coins Distributed?
Challenge coins are distributed through a handshake. Coins given as achievement rewards are usually passed from the giver's right hand to the recipient's right hand during a handshake.
This tradition of this handshake awarding is said to have originated from higher-ranking officers in the military taking credit for the accomplishments of ordinary soldiers, leaving the lower-ranking soldiers without their deserved rewards. This method was a way for individuals to clandestinely receive recognition and rewards.
Types of Military Coins
What is a military challenge coin? Here is military coin history. It originated from the military, so there are various types of military coins.
Common coins we usually see are: Army Challenge Coins, Navy Challenge Coins, Air Force Challenge Coins, Marine Challenge Coins, Coast Guard Challenge Coins, Veteran Challenge Coins
As time passes by, challenge coins are utilized in various contexts beyond the military, common coins we can see now include police challenge coins, law enforcement challenge coins, firefighter challenge coins, first responder challenge coins, and more.
Value of Challenge Coins and How to Get Them
The primary value of challenge coins lies in their collectible nature, with rarer challenge coins holding a higher value.
How do you get a challenge coin?
Acquiring challenge coins depends on the context and organization you're interested in. You can obtain challenge coins through several means:
Membership:
The most common way to obtain challenge coins is by becoming a member of a specific organization that uses challenge coins, such as military units, law enforcement agencies, government offices, clubs, or other groups. Upon completing the application procedure, you might receive a challenge coin as a symbol of your affiliation or recognition for achievements within the group.
Events and Ceremonies:
There is a custom for the distribution of challenge coins at certain events, ceremonies, or special occasions might involve the distribution of challenge coins. Invited speakers, guests of honor, or attendees at specific events might receive challenge coins as commemorative items.
Customizing Challenge Coins:
If you have a specific design or want to create challenge coins for a personal project, you can work with companies specialized in creating custom challenge coins. These companies can assist you in designing and producing coins based on your preferences.
Remember that challenge coins can hold sentimental value and represent a connection to specific groups or achievements. They are often cherished by recipients, making the way you acquire challenge coins more meaningful.
In case you are interested in some specific challenge coin, do your research on the organization and its challenges or rules associated with getting their coins either by buying collectible Challenge Coins or having them custom-made.
Details You Should Know About Customizing Challenge Coins
If you're interested in purchasing or customizing challenge coins, here are some product details you need to know in advance:
Material of Challenge Coins
Challenge coins are typically made from various metals, such as bronze, brass, silver, and even gold, and at certain scenes may include enamel or other decorative elements. However, contemporary challenge coins are frequently made of steel or zinc materials because of their advantages.
Finishes of Challenge Coins
Challenge Coin Finishes: A wide selection of challenge coins is featured in bright gold, brilliant silver, shiny copper, and black nickel coatings as well as dual-tone finishes (a mixture effect), aged gold, brass, or polished look charcoal gray blending with an antique element—aged silver color plus light and dark old tones overlapping for added visual texture from top to bottom—the same treatment common on prized ancient chess pieces; iridescent rainbow colors are also part of our repertoire.
Shapes and Sizes of Challenge Coins
- Sizes:
Most challenge coins require a size of 2 inches. The standard thickness for challenge coins is 3.0mm. Of course, you can also customize heavier challenge coins with a thickness of around 3.5mm as needed.
- Shapes:
The majority of challenge coins are circular, like regular coins, but in recent years, there has been an increasing trend of unique-shaped challenge coins, including cut-out shapes.
Number of Sides on Challenge Coins
Challenge coins can be made with either one or two sides. Customizing double-sided challenge coins can add more symbolism to the design.
Edges of Challenge Coins
Different Edge Styles for Challenge Coins include regular edge, twisted rope edge, laurel leaf edge, cross-cut edge, spiked spur edge, slanting oblique line edge, diagonal groove edge, and more.
Crafting Techniques of Challenge Coins
Regarding artistry, there exist numerous crafting techniques for challenge coins. For example, vintage-style antique coins, shiny and sandblasted coins, etc. Glossy challenge coins exhibit high allure thanks to their reflective finishes.
- Soft Enamel Coins vs. Hard Enamel Coins
Soft enamel coins have a textured surface, while hard enamel coins are smooth. Die-cut custom coins can be personalized much like bottle opener coins. Some challenge coins may also utilize die-cut crafting.
- 2D Challenge Coins vs. 3D Challenge Coins
For 2D coins, the surface will be flat, and the metal lines forming the design will be raised, with flat tops on the lines. 3D coins have a raised surface, and the design is more intricate and rounded, presenting a 3D effect. 3D coins tend to be more expensive.
2D coins have just two levels, one raised and one lower recessed. 3D coins have intricate raised and recessed details with limitless layers, allowing for carved images on the coin's metal surface and more lifelike depth in the rounded edges.
Excellent custom challenge coin maker
Challenge coin manufacturers often have a lot of introductions about the history and craftsmanship of challenge coins. The following are some well-known challenge coin companies:
GS-JJ
GS-JJ is a well-known company that specializes in creating high-quality challenge coins. They offer a wide variety of customization options that are tailored to your specific preferences and needs.
Features:
- A dedicated challenge coin design system, offering a plethora of design templates that can serve as references for designs.
- 3D Modeling Videos， they have exclusively developed a new technology that can create 3D videos for clients' designs, allowing products to achieve better presentation and promotion.
CustomChallengeCoins.net
- CustomChallengeCoins.net is a platform dedicated to crafting custom challenge coins for a wide array of organizations. Here are some of its key features:
- Monthly Coin Promotions: They offer free upgrade options for all coins ordered for 200 or more in celebration of some festivals.
- D&B Certificate: They've got the D&B certificate.
Signature Coins
- Signature Coin is a company that deals with custom coins production, including challenge coins. The main features are:
- As A Challenge Coin Maker: This is a challenge coin-making specialist. Also, their site features many promotional products.
- Transparent Price List: On the product page you can see a very transparent price list.
To sum up, challenge coins represent loyalty and brotherhood. They have a long history and are still special to so many people for their traditions, and symbolism. For more information on challenge coins, visit this article:
How to Create Your Custom Challenge Coins | GS-JJ.com ®
This article was written in cooperation with GS-JJ.com