Custom Challenge Coins
Individual head challenge coins
Individual head challenge coins made to your artwork, featuring a raised portrait of a person struck into the metal face with soft enamel fill and a polished gold finish. The design shown was produced for a military unit with a detailed head profile in red white and blue enamel, and the same process applies to any individual portrait you provide. You approve a digital proof before production begins, so the final coin matches your vision exactly.
MadeTo your artwork, proof approved first
Artwork filesAI PDF JPEG or CDR
Reply timeWithin 8 hours
Express transitAbout 2-4 days worldwide
Detail
What You Get and Who Orders It
Key Benefits
- The individual head is die struck into the metal so it remains sharp and durable, not printed or stuck on
- Soft enamel fill is hand applied and baked to resist chipping and fading during handling
- Polished gold finish enhances the depth of the portrait and gives a premium feel in hand
- One digital proof covers all coins in a batch so consistency is maintained across multiple units
- Made in-house from your artwork so revisions are handled directly by the team doing the striking
Where It Is Used
- Recognition of individual service or achievement in military and law enforcement units
- Personalized gifts for leadership transitions or retirement ceremonies
- Team-building tokens for corporate departments or internal recognition programs
- Award coins for sports teams or clubs honoring individual players or coaches
- Memorial or tribute coins for fallen personnel or long-serving members
Who It Is For
- Military unit commanders ordering commemorative coins for personnel
- Law enforcement agencies issuing recognition coins for individual officers
- Corporate HR teams creating personalized awards for long-term employees
- Sports coaches and team managers giving individual recognition coins
- Family members or friends commissioning tribute coins for personal memorials
Problems It Solves
- Stock challenge coins have generic faces that cannot represent a specific individual
- Printed or stickered portraits wear off or peel after repeated handling
- Colour mismatch between reorders when different batches use different enamel mixes
- Coins that look assembled from parts due to mismatched plating or attachment types
- Late changes to the portrait that a supplier without in-house design cannot adjust quickly
Technical Features
- Die struck relief so the individual head profile remains sharp even at small sizes
- Soft enamel fill leaves the metal edges proud of the colour for a tactile, dimensional finish
- Polished gold silver or antique plating available on the same die for multiple variants
- Standard pin back with rubber washer for secure attachment to uniforms or bags
- Optional epoxy dome over the face for extra scratch resistance and depth of colour
Materials
- Zinc alloy or brass body depending on relief depth and size
- Baked soft enamel colour for durability and colour consistency
- Electroplated polished gold silver bronze or antique finish
- Standard pin back with rubber washer for secure fastening
Quality Control
- First struck sample checked against the approved proof before the run continues
- Plating colour compared against the retained reference piece from your previous order
- Enamel checked for pinholes overfill and colour match under daylight lamps
- Each coin bagged individually to prevent face scratches during transit
- Count verified against the packing list before the carton is sealed
Customisation Options
- Any individual head profile including facial features, hair, and expression
- Portrait struck into the face with no printed overlay
- Gold silver and antique plating options from one die for different variants
- Reverse side left blank, struck with a logo, or fitted for engraving
- Epoxy dome glitter enamel or antique wash finishes available
- Multiple coins with different portraits made from the same die if needed
Use Guide
- Send vector artwork where possible so facial details remain sharp when struck
- Keep facial features above roughly two millimetres tall or they may fill in during enamelling
- Decide on gold silver or antique finish before proofing so the die can be plated accordingly
- Order a few extra coins per batch to cover damage or lost pieces
- Store coins in their bags until presentation to avoid fingerprints on plating
Specifications
| Product Type | Custom challenge coin with individual head portrait |
|---|---|
| Forming Method | Die struck from your artwork |
| Colour Fill | Soft enamel |
| Finish Shown | Polished gold |
| Attachment | Standard pin back with rubber washer |
| Artwork Files | AI PDF JPEG or CDR |
| Proof | Digital proof approved before production |
| Diameter and Thickness | TBC with sales team |
| Minimum Order Quantity | TBC with sales team |
Compared With the Alternatives
| Stock challenge coin with a printed face | A die struck portrait will not wear off or fade but requires tooling so it only makes sense above a modest quantity |
|---|---|
| Hard enamel challenge coin | Hard enamel polishes flat and feels more premium but adds polishing time and cost |
| Acrylic or plastic coin with printed image | Metal carries more weight and perceived value in hand while acrylic allows for photographic detail at lower cost |
Manufacturing
How This Piece Is Made
Artwork review and digital proof creation
Die cutting from the approved proof
Die striking the coin blank
Trimming and polishing the edges
Electroplating the surface
Hand enamel filling and baking
Attachment of pin back with washer
Individual bagging and packing
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