Challenge coins have long been a tradition among the military. Despite years of tradition, there’s no definitive story of how they started. According to the Department of Defense, three stories are possible.
The first story is about a soldier who ordered custom coins for his unit in WWI and was later captured. He used the coin to identify himself after escaping.
The other two stories are simpler and date back to the 1960s. One claims they began as a symbol of membership in a military bar. Others say they caught on after one unit adopted them.
We’ll talk more about custom coins and the things they celebrate in this article.
What Are Challenge Coins?
We’ve talked a bit about where challenge coins originated, but not why they’re significant. Challenge coins are a kind of keepsake that commemorates something important to the owner. This could be anything from membership in an organization to personal achievement.
Some of the most common reasons for issuing challenge coins are sobriety and military service. 12-step programs, for example, issue many color-coded coins to recognize milestones. Most challenge coins denote something that requires significant dedication.
Keep in mind that this isn’t a necessity. If you want a custom coin just for yourself, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Designing Challenge Coins
Much of the appeal of challenge coins is the sheer variety associated with them. Some businesses will even let you design your own custom coins so you know you’re getting what you want. You can find one such business here.
Custom coin design is often a detailed process. It covers everything from the coin’s faces to patterns on its edge. The color and shape of the con might also be up to you.
Custom Coins in the Office
One interesting use of custom coins is in the workplace. Some companies issue customized coins as a way to recognize and reward employees for their hard work and contributions.
You can use them to celebrate your team’s achievements. Issuing custom challenge coins might build a group identity among the employees and make them a better team.
The use of custom coins goes far beyond the conference room. Some companies use them as perks to attract new talent or to bring in customers. It’s not uncommon for businesses to offer keepsakes to their customers, but challenge coins aren’t as common. You could even offer them as a perk to joining a rewards club if you offer one.
Custom Coins and Their Uses
Custom coins are unique souvenirs, and people have used them to mark many special occasions. We’ve discussed a few creative uses for challenge coins in this article, but you could write whole books about things to do with custom coins.
Everything from the appearance of the coin to what it’s for can be up to you. You don’t even need a reason to have a custom coin made if you don’t want to.
If you want to know more about custom coins or various other topics, please read our blog.