The challenge coin is so much more than just a memento. It is a marker of pride, achievement, teamwork, and solidarity. Challenge coins have a long and rich history, stemming from the armed forces all the way back in World War I.
Today, they are given out to commemorate achievements in a wide variety of settings.
While still common across all branches of the military, custom challenge coins are also given out in corporations, sports teams, and public institutions across America and beyond.
But how does a challenge coin come into being? Read on to find out exactly how challenge tokens are made.
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Who Makes Custom Challenge Coins?
You might be wondering if there are any dedicated custom coin manufacturers around these days. In the US, there are a handful of dedicated producers with the resources to create made-to-order designs.
Once you reach out to the companies, they will often work with you to find the right design for your organization and will often provide some inspiring examples of what you could order.
After this, they will produce as many as you need and ship them directly to your place of business. You can even click for custom made coins and complete a full order for bespoke tokens online in just a few minutes.
Milling, Striking, and Edging
So, what happens when you have found the right custom challenges coins producer and have settled on a design?
First, you will need to confirm that you are happy with the materials of challenge coins. These will usually comprise a base of copper, iron, or zinc, plus a finer finish of gold or silver. Once this is decided, the milling stage can begin.
Here, the metals are poured into a custom mold that creates an exact copy of your design from the metal itself. This process can then be repeated with a single mold ad infinitum until the order is fulfilled.
Next up is a stage called “die striking“, where a large machine is used to apply pressure to the coins to mold them into a complete, perfect shape without flaws. After this, the “edging” process can take place.
As the name suggests, this is where the edges around the coin can be augmented with groves or patterns to complete your unique design.
Plating, Coloring, and Finishing
Once the “skeleton” of the coin is complete, the manufacturer can start to bring it to life. This is where more precious metals can be added to the surface, which is then cleaned with dedicated chemicals.
The coloring phrase then fills the design with all of the right colors to truly bring it to life, using enamel paint.
Finally, the coins can undergo finishing. This involves the sandblasting, brushing, and polishing of each and every coin to ensure a gleaming, flawless product that is worthy of the recipient.
The More You Know
Custom challenge coins have also found their way into the realm of law enforcement, where police challenge coins serve as symbols of honor, camaraderie, and shared commitment within police departments and law enforcement agencies.
They are increasingly used to help foster a sense of belonging in workplaces across America.
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