Views: 0 Author: Natasha Publish Time: 2026-01-31 Origin: Cugle
Custom challenge coins are more than just metal tokens—they are symbols of identity, recognition and achievement. From military units to global brands, organizations choose custom challenge coins to tell their story in a durable and meaningful way.
As a professional manufacturer of custom metal products, we've worked with clients across industries and events. In this blog, we'll share the top 10 most popular custom challenge coin designs, explain the different types and styles, and help you understand how to choose the right option for your project.
Challenge coins stand out because they combine high perceived value with full customization. Unlike standard promotional items, coins are long lasting, highly-collectible and symbolically emotional. With modern production techniques, custom coins can now feature complex shapes, multi-color plating, 3D details and special effects, all tailored to your brand and organization.
The evolution of custom challenge coin designs reflects changing organizational needs and technological capabilities. Modern manufacturing techniques have expanded creative possibilities beyond traditional military emblems to include corporate branding, commemorative artwork, specialized functional features that serve diverse communities, and purposes across industries.
Military coins remain the foundation of this tradition. These designs usually feature unit insignias, crests, flags, or mission details. Precision die striking and antique finishes are commonly used to highlight history and honor.
Recommended finishes: Antique gold, antique silver
Best for: Units, veterans' groups, commemorative missions
Police, fire and emergency service coins focus on strength, loyalty and public service. Badges, shields, and symbolic lines are common design elements.
Popular techniques:3D molding, edge text, antique plating
Usage: Service recognition, memorials, internal awards
Custom challenge coins in the corporate world have become particularly effective for employee retention programs, with many organizations reporting increased workplace morale following coin presentations. Many companies now use Corporate coins as premium branding tools. Compared to standard giveaways, coins deliver a stronger sense of exclusivity and appreciation.
Design focus: Clean logos, brand colors, modern layouts
Common uses: Employee awards, company anniversaries, client gifts
3D challenge coins feature sculpted metal surfaces that add depth and realism. This style works especially well for emblems, mascots, or architectural elements.
Production note: One-sided or double-sided 3D options available
Ideal for: High-end recognition coins
Dual-plating combines two metal finishes on one coin, such as gold and silver or black nickel and gold. This technique highlights key details and creates visual contrast.
Why clients choose it: Premium look without increasing size
Best for: Corporate and commemorative designs
Custom-shaped coins break away from traditional round designs. The shape follows your logo or symbol, making the coin instantly recognizable.
Common shapes: Shields, stars, dog tags, state outlines
Advantage: Strong brand identity and uniqueness
Cut-out designs remove metal sections to create open spaces. This adds depth and complexity while keeping the coin visually light.
Recommended style: Soft enamel with polished metal edges
Great for: Intricate logos and layered designs
Spinner coins include a rotating center element, adding interaction and surprise. These designs require precise tooling and assembly.
Popular uses: Leadership awards, limited editions
Perceived value: Very high among collectors
Glow enamel adds a functional and visual effect, making coins stand out in low-light environments.
Popular themes: Security teams, night operations, special events
Design tip: Pair with dark plating for stronger contrast
Up-In Normal Light/Bottom-In the Dark
These coins mark milestones such as anniversaries, retirements, or major achievements. Dates, slogans, and symbolic imagery are essential.
Typical finishes: Antique bronze, matte gold
Purpose: Long-term keepsakes with emotional value
Visually, the biggest difference between soft enamel and hard enamel coins is the texture. Soft enamel coins feature raised metal lines, while hard enamel challenge coins have a smooth, flat surface, which results in different production processes. Essentially, the starting process for both crafts is very similar.
For soft enamel challenge coins, the production process does not include surface polishing. As a result, the metal lines are thinner than those on hard enamel challenge coins-the thinnest can be 0.12mm, with 0.15mm being more common.
The polishing technique gives hard enamel pins a premium, refined, and high-end appearance. It also makes them more durable and scratch-resistant. However, the additional production steps and higher materiel costs make hard enamel pins more expensive to produce, which is why they are often the first choice of high-end brands andthe military.
No enamel challenge coins are also a common choice. You can design a challenge coin without any enamel, resulting in a monochrome metal finish. Because of this, the metal line design becomes especially important in creating depth and visual appeal.
Plating refers to the metal base of your coin. It forms the outline of your challenge coin design and separates each individual enamel color. By now, not only has the range of electroplated colors expanded, but the available finishes have also diversified, from the common shiny look to matte, antique and rainbow effects. You can even choose double electroplated color on one custom coin. These electroplated options have greatly increased design possibilities, making challenge coins more beautiful and varied than ever. Choosing an electroplated color is a very important part of customizing your coin.
Fake gold and silver are the most popular plating options. Fake gold offers a luxurious, high-end look and pairs beautifully with purple or red enamel, while silver works well with cool tones such as black or grey.
With the right plating choice, you can create a standout challenge coin even using just a single enamel color or no enamel color.
The shape of the challenge coin is also one thing that makes your custom coins stand out. The standard and most common shape for challenge coins is round, much like the loose change jingling in your pocket. However, this is not the only option - human creativity knows no bounds, and custom shapes can be incredibly diverse. Here is an example of a multilateral circle shape challenge coin.
Challenge coins are specially designed to represent an organization or group. Being given one means you're accepted as a member with esprit de corps - it can also serve as a token of honor or recognition for your actions. Now it is also widely used for brand promotion, event commemorations and partner appreciation.
Their durability and symbolism make them ideal for both internal and external use.
Choosing the right custom challenge coin design depends on your purpose, audience and budget. With the right combination of design, material and finish, a challenge coin can become a lasting symbol of your organization's values and achievements.
Working with an experienced manufacturer ensures your ideas are translated into a high-quality finished product, from artwork approval to final production.
