A challenge coin is a great way to inspire military-style camaraderie and loyalty among employees and law enforcement personnel. But the cost of making them can add up quickly, mainly if you include multiple customization options like color, a spinning center, glow-in-the-dark enamel, or engraved sequential numbers.
Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to reduce the cost of personalized coins without compromising on their design or quality. Just keep reading for our top tips!
Color
Whether ordering for an armed forces unit or an organization such as a fraternal group, advocacy organization, sports team, or business, your custom challenge coin will reflect your organization’s unique symbol or logo. Your organization’s coloration, industry standards, and personal preference will determine your design’s overall look. The amount of detail you want in your custom challenge coin will also play a role in its price. The type of paint you choose and the number of sides you need on your coin will affect its cost. Soft enamel adds colored enamel that dries in valleys between metal lines for a classic textured surface, while hard enamel uses metal edges with smooth surfaces. Law enforcement and other organizations that want to recreate their badge on a coin prefer hard enamel.
In addition, the mold used to stamp your coin will also affect the price. A more complex or intricate mold will increase the cost of your coin. Likewise, using more colors or multiple sides will increase the total custom challenge coins cost. Other factors in your coin’s final pricing may include plating and add-on features like glow-in-the-dark enamel, engraved sequential numbers, epoxy coating, translucent enamel, and more. These options can add up quickly, so knowing your budget is essential.
Quantity
Whether given out to military units, police departments, or even businesses to inspire a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood, the importance of challenge coins is universal. These unique awards are an incredible way to honor a team’s hard work, and they can also hold value beyond their initial use. It’s true for challenge coins with old references, specific individuals, or limited production runs, often worth more to collectors. The quantity of challenge coins you order will also impact their price. Larger challenge coins require more giant molds and extra materials to produce, naturally making them more expensive. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to order in bulk whenever possible. It will allow you to use discounted pricing and save money per coin.
Another factor affecting the cost of challenge coins is the packaging you choose. Minimalist packaging, like small plastic bags, is the most affordable option. However, consider upgrading to a custom presentation box to add elegance to your challenge coins. These boxes are a great way to make your challenge coins look high-end and are an excellent choice for corporate events or for presenting new military personnel with their newly acquired challenges.
Add-Ons
When creating a challenge coin, there are many add-ons available. These can include additional colors and kinetic features like spinner coins. These options will all affect the cost of the coin. In general, more specialized add-ons will be more expensive than simpler ones. The shape of the coin also impacts its cost. Larger shapes require more time-consuming molds and may be more costly than smaller coins. Similarly, coins with textured or metallic edges may be more costly to create than those with smooth or frosted finishes.
Another factor influencing the cost of custom challenge coins is the type of metal used to make them. Gold and silver coins are generally more expensive than those made with other metals. They are more durable and have a higher luster. While adding a custom challenge coin to your employee rewards program may seem costly, the emotional ROI can be unmatched. Unlike cash bonuses, which are quickly forgotten, these tokens of recognition stir a potent mix of pride, belonging, and motivation. These coins are priceless with their power to fortify team morale, reaffirm organizational values, and pave the way for networking opportunities.
Size
The size of your custom challenge coin can be a significant factor in its cost. Larger coins require larger molds and more materials, which leads to higher production costs. For this reason, it’s usually best to stick to the standard challenge coin size range of 1.5 inches to 2 inches. These sizes offer a balance of detail, weight, and portability. Similarly, if you plan to add kinetic features to your coin (such as spinners or gyro coins), remember that they’ll increase the overall production costs. Kinetic features require an additional die to make and will add weight to your coin, which can increase the price.
Another important consideration is the thickness of your coin. Thicker coins will be more expensive than thinner ones. However, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each option, as a thicker coin can often feel more substantial in the hand and convey a sense of value. While the thickness of your coin can influence its cost, it’s also worth considering how much text or other design elements you want to incorporate into your coin. Remember that smaller challenge coins will need more space to accommodate a lot of text or intricate details, so it’s crucial to balance size and complexity when designing your coin.
