Better Challenge Coins

Challenge Coins for a Cause

January 20, 2019 By PNR Leave a Comment

Life isn’t always easy and not everyone has the same advantages in life. There are many social causes that people hold walks for, including research for a medical condition, a fundraiser for families of people who valiantly battled an illness, or even events held to bring awareness to an issue.

In October, breast cancer awareness is a big focus for survivors and families of those who didn’t win their battle. There are many different types of walks, fundraisers, and events to help shine a spotlight on this issue. If you are involved in the planning of an event for breast cancer awareness, challenge coins can help. By creating a custom challenge coin, you are creating more than just a coin.

Challenge Coins can Create A Memory

There are a lot of people in the United States who have known someone who has battled cancer. With so many women and men who have won, handing out a challenge coin to survivors at your event to honor their fight and purpose in life is a touching tribute. You can create another coin that is special and unique to give to families who have lost loved ones. The coin can serve to honor their memory and valiant fight too. Challenge coins serve as a great reminder to them about the emotions they felt at the event, along with the bonds they created with others in the community and the people they learned about who have battled breast cancer.

Challenge Coins can Create Awareness

If you hand them out to people who donate to cancer research or those who pay to get into your event, you are spreading passion and awareness. The more people who see the coin, the more awareness you can bring to breast cancer. Coins are a great talking point for people, especially if you turn them into something that is more visible, like a keychain. Since you get to design the coin, you can make it as unique and vibrant as you want, making it more noticeable. If you are supporting a specific organization, charity, or medical facility, handing out your custom challenge coin with its name on it helps people remember the organization even better. The physical reminder with the name will help them remember.

Challenge Coins can Create a New Tradition

Many causes prefer to hold races to raise money and awareness, where medals are handed out. Many runners like to collect these medals to display, showing their accomplishments. If you decide to hold a race for breast cancer research, a challenge coin is a great option to hand out in bags instead of a medal. You can easily customize them to your occasion, but they are a more distinctive option. By starting your own tradition, you set yourself apart and become more memorable. If you hold your event or race every year, make the challenge coins different so that they can become a fun collector’s item too. Think about having fun display cases available as prizes for placing in a race, winning in a raffle, or having on site to purchase for more funds.

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Challenge coins can really benefit your event for breast cancer awareness. Our artists can talk to you about ideas to make your coins unique and special.

PITCH AND RUDDER SERVICES

Making custom quality challenge coins and Military belt buckles are one of our specialties. If you’re interested in getting a designing a custom buckle or Quality Challenge coin for your Division, Command, or Mess we’ve streamlined the process, click the get started link at the bottom of the page and someone from our design team will be with you within 48 hours to bring your vision to life. If your interested in making something awesome in metal, so hot you need glove to put it on your belt check out Pitch and Rudders Custom Military Belt Buckles.

How to GO CUSTOM

January 14, 2019 By PNR 1 Comment

One question customers ask constantly is, “How do I get Challenge Coins?”. Whether you want a single coin to give as a gift or several coins to complete a collection, Pitch and Rudder has you covered with thousands of options to choose from, all conveniently located on the retail section of our website. To receive custom-made challenge coins for yourself or your organization, the first step is to request a quote on the GO Custom of our website. After determining your quote, we will be with you every step of the way, from design to delivery, to ensure your complete satisfaction with the final product. Without further ado, let’s get started on creating your next coin!

of our website. After determining your quote, we will be with you every step of the way, from design to delivery, to ensure your complete satisfaction with the final product. Without further ado, let’s get started on creating your next coin!

Step 1: Get A Quote

First, as stated above, you will want to reach out to us for a quote to ensure that you are getting the perfect coin that catches your eye and satisfies your budget. To create an accurate quote for your order, we’ll first need to know what size, finishes, and color schemes you want your coin(s) to have. Next, we’ll need to know how many coins to include in your order, whether you want a 2-or-3-D product, and if you want any additional features added to the final product. Here are some helpful tips to consider when talking to us about these details.

Size: The most common size for a coin is a diameter of 1.75,” but 1.5” and 2” are also common sizes. We may need an extra day to calculate a quote for other sizes.

Finish: The most common finishes you can choose from are Antique Brass, Nickel, Antique Silver, Antique Copper, Antique Gold, Shiny Gold, and Black Nickel. An antique finish makes it easier to read the coin’s text and see 3-D detail. A Shiny finish gives your coin a regal, high-value appearance. You can also combine different finishes on the same coin for a two-tone finish. Police and sheriff’s offices often request two-toned coins with the badge highlighted in gold and the rest of the coin finished in silver.

Colors: Pitch and Rudder offers a flat rate of $.35 per side to add any number and combination of colors to your coin. This is one of the best deals in the industry. Ask us for advice about which colors look the best together if you are unsure about what you want!

Quantity: The price of each coin drops significantly as you increase your order size. We can fulfill orders for a single coin, but the best price will be for orders of at least 100 coins. If you are unsure of how many coins you will need, please tell us the quantity you want to be quoted for in the notes section of the quote request form.

2-D or 3-D Design: If you want images on your coin to “pop out,” then you will want to request a 3-D design. Some designs require it and your coin sales representative will suggest it in that case. Some 3-D effects will increase the price of the die-mold, but this usually does not change the order’s total cost per coin.

Step 2: Deposit

After the quote is agreed upon your order will be charged a $150 deposit fee. The artwork is free, so this deposit is applied to your total order. The remaining balance of your order, total minus the deposit, is due before your finished coin can be shipped.

Step 3: Design

You will get unlimited design edits on your coin, and we will accept artwork in any format. You can send us your desired design electronically in standard formats like .pdf, .ai, or .jpg, or mail or fax us your hand-drawings. Our experienced staff and designers have processed 40,000 different coin orders, so you can feel confident that you will be receiving a top-quality coin!

Production and Delivery:

Once we have received your approved artwork, production takes between 14 to 18 days to complete. We will then deliver your order right to your doorstep.

We make ordering challenge coins easy by doing all the hard work for you. We will take your vision and turn it into a coin that will last for centuries to come! Please take the simple first step of filling out the Go Custom and we will do the rest.

PITCH AND RUDDER SERVICES

How business can use custom challenge coins

January 14, 2019 By PNR Leave a Comment

business and custom challenge coins

The History of the Custom Challenge Coin and How Businesses Can Use Them

The history of the custom challenge coin goes back about a hundred years. They’ve widely been used in the military to signify brotherhood and units.

The challenge coin has long been a symbol of camaraderie, passion, and pride. Pride in the work the unit does, passion for the country, and camaraderie that’s unique to the military.

That’s been recognized and adopted by organizations outside of the military. Today, they’re used by first responders, governments, non-profit organizations, and businesses. Even the President has one (and he just gave it a makeover).

Read on to learn more about these unique coins and how you can use them in your business.

What is a Challenge Coin?

A challenge coin is a coin that carries the unique insignia or mottos of a group or unit. Usually seen in the military, these coins give those who carry them a sense of pride.

The size of challenge coins was originally about one inch in diameter. Now, they’re about 1.75″ in diameter. Most of them are round, just like a coin, but there are some that are in the shape of a rectangle or pentagon.

They’re issued to show appreciation, for serving in a military operation, and soldiers will show them to identify themselves as part of a particular unit.

They’re traded and exchanged like trading cards or business cards among military members.

History of the Challenge Coin

No one truly knows how the challenge coin became pervasive in the U.S. Military.

The most common story is that a wealthy American lieutenant created insignia and had medallions made for his unit during World War I. He was fighter pilot was shot down and captured by German soldiers, who took all of his ID, with the exception of the coin he kept in a leather pouch.

He escaped and managed to make contact with French villagers, who thought he was a German spy and sought to kill him.

He pulled out his coin and a French soldier identified the symbol, which saved his life.

Other stories that may or may not be the first use of the challenge coin come from World War II and Vietnam.

The challenge coin tradition took shape in the 1960s when the 10th Special Forces Group became the first and only military unit to commission its own coin. It remained the only unit in the Army with its own challenge coin until the 1980s. That’s when the tradition became standard among military units.

The truth is, the use of coins in the military goes back to the Romans. Roman soldiers received coins for their pay after a day on the battlefield. Soldiers were recognized for an extraordinary job with another coin.

These coins were thought to have been specially produced to reflect different Roman military units.

The challenge coin tradition can even be found in other countries. Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are just a few of the countries that have embraced what challenge coins represent.

Where Does “Challenge” Come From?

How did a challenge coin get to be called a challenge coin?

The challenge comes in the form of a coin check to make sure all members of a unit are carrying their coins.

This usually occurs at a bar, where one member (the challenger) will slap their coin on the bar. That’s a call for everyone else to immediately show that they have their coins present.

If everyone has their coin on them, the challenger has to buy a round of drinks. Whoever does not have their coin present has to buy a round for the challenger and everyone else.

Why You Should Use Them in Your Business

The reasons why these are used in the military can be carried over to your business. If your employees are short on passion, pride and camaraderie, consider getting challenge coins for your team.

There are other reasons why you should have challenge coins in your business.

Team Building

How fun would it be if your sales team were sitting around at a meeting table and someone tried to challenge the rest of the team, with the challenger having to buy lunch for everyone?

Those are the times where everyone in the room is laughing and having fun and creates a true team environment.

Brand Building

Challenge coins used as part of marketing promotions is a unique way to make your company stand out.

A custom challenge coin can make a positive first impression for your brand and will help your company stand out from competitors.

With a challenge coin, you can use your logo, company name, or the vision and mission statement of the organization.

Recognize Outstanding Work

Employees who are appreciated are more engaged. They’re also motivated by recognition, appreciation, and a fun workplace.

They are not motivated by money.

With a challenge coin created just for outstanding employees, your employees get to experience all three.

Walk Together Forever

Challenge coins can present an opportunity to bond. Have you ever been a part of a big project or was part of a team where everyone worked hard, worked overtime, and the team succeeded?

Those are special moments. They happen in team sports, in business, in the military.

Those are the moments that bind everyone together and you don’t forget.

As a manager, you can make those memories last by giving a challenge coin to each member. It’s a way to recognize the hard work, the fun, and the memories that last long after the work is complete!

Ways to Add a Custom Challenge Coin to Your Business

Does your team have any special projects or objectives to meet?

Maybe you have different sales teams competing for the highest sales volume. Perhaps there’s a conference or trade show and you want your company to stand out.

Here are just some of the ways to add these special coins to your business:

Reward Outstanding Teams
Appreciate Individual Employees
Marketing Promotions
Customer Appreciation
Business Cards

The possibilities are endless. You can get as creative as you want with how you incorporate challenge coins.

Get a Unique Custom Challenge Coin

A challenge coin is a great way to reward team members, bring teams together, and bring fun into your work.

Want a unique custom challenge coin for your business? Have a look at design options and get a free quote today!

PITCH AND RUDDER SERVICES

Honoring Military Spouses With Challenge Coins

January 14, 2019 By PNR Leave a Comment

Honoring Military Spouses With Challenge Coins

Military life is tough, not only on the service members but on their families as well. Spouses must cope with the anxiety of long deployments and the fear of a dreaded knock on their door at any time.

Nonmilitary husbands and wives deployed with their service member must cope with all the struggles of running a normal household plus the challenges of moving frequently, adapting to a new location and often putting their own careers on hold, at least temporarily.

Custom challenge coins similar to those given to military members are a new means of honoring military spouses and parents. It’s a small token that can convey a lot of appreciation and gratitude.

The Basics of Military (Spouse) Life

Military life adds a whole new level of things to deal with for family members. Living on base, moving frequently, adhering to rules and regulations civilians don’t even know about. Then add the stress of loved ones being deployed for long periods, often to war zones. It’s not easy.

Parents must often serve as both Mom and Dad for extended periods. Children must uproot their lives, move across the country – or around the world – every two to three years. And if both parents are deployed, the children must stay with other family members if parents are deployed to a danger zone.

The Challenge Coin Tradition

Custom challenge coins have long been a staple of military life. They’re a widely respected way to show membership in elite groups, and/or to reward outstanding performance.

The original challenge coins, depending on which legend one believes, date back to World War I, World War II or Vietnam. No matter when they began, challenge coins have been a treasured aspect of all five branches of the U.S. military for at least half a century. That’s what makes them ideal as a way to recognize the contributions that military spouses make to their partners’ service.

A military recognition event, held either on- or off-base, at which the coins are presented is an outstanding way to honor military spouses. Presentations from commanding officers help make the event memorable for spouses and service members alike.

Challenge Coin Design

It’s not hard to design challenge coins for just about any purpose. A reputable coin provider will employ graphic artists who can help you craft the perfect coins that honor the dedication and sacrifice of military wives and husbands.

You don’t have to have a finished design. If you just have an idea, the artists at any good company will work with you to design a great looking coin. They will help you determine the right coin size, shape, imprint style, color and options for your custom coins.

With modern production techniques, you’re not limited to a specific coin shape. Custom designs are available in just about any shape imaginable. Coin sizes are also up to you. No matter whether you want a simple design suitable for a small coin or an intricate one with lots of detail, your provider should be able to accommodate your needs.

If you want to reproduce an existing coin design or modify it, a good coin supplier can handle it. Of course, creating an entirely new design should be no problem at all.

You can select from a range of metal colors, including polished brass, copper, black nickel, gold, black or silver. Antiqued styles add a classic look.

Add colors to your design for a bold, bright coin. A good supplier will include up to five colors in the price of your coins, with additional colors available for a slight extra fee.

Custom options add a personal touch to your coin designs. Cutouts and 3D designs add great visual distinction to your coins. Add texture with diamond-cut edges in wave, rope or cross-cut styles.

Pitch and Rudder – Your Dependable Coin Source

No matter what type of custom coins you choose to honor military spouses, you need a coin supplier you can depend on. Count on Pitch and Rudder for the finest in custom challenge coins.

We offer free artwork and design. You can be sure your design will look exactly the way you want it to before production begins. We offer free shipping to any continental U.S.A. address as well.

We are committed to providing only top quality coins to our customers. We hand-inspect each one before we ship it to you. We also back up what we promise with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you discover a defect in materials or workmanship of any custom coin you purchase from us, let us know. We’ll replace it at no extra cost to you because we’re dedicated to your total satisfaction with your order.

PITCH AND RUDDER SERVICES

Fire Department Challenge Coins

January 14, 2019 By PNR Leave a Comment

Fire department challenge coins are a popular way to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of firefighters throughout the nation. They are an excellent way to commemorate the lives of firefighters lost in the line of duty.

Few non-firefighters (“civilians,” if you will) appreciate the dangers firefighters face every time they go out on a call. From traffic crashes to building collapses and even explosions, the list of dangers is virtually endless. Although many departments have an unofficial motto of “Everybody goes home,” the grim fact is that not everybody does.

In Charleston, S.C., a 2007 fire at a furniture store and warehouse took the lives of nine firefighters. The 2013 Yarnell Hill wildfire in Arizona killed 19 members of an elite wildfire fighting team.

While such tragedies garner news headlines, most line-of-duty deaths occur one at a time. They can include stress-related heart attacks while on duty. The cause is irrelevant – the simple fact is that the individual gives his or her life in the interest of protecting others.

Fire department challenge coins have long been popular as a way to commemorate department and squad events. They can be a perfect means of memorializing fallen comrades as well.

St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters worldwide, is an apt image for such a coin. The classic St. Florian’s Cross or Maltese Cross also are fitting. Any reputable provider of custom coins can help you create a design that is both attractive and appropriate.

Another way to use custom coins is to sell them as fundraisers. One Michigan department is doing just that, to raise money to build a memorial to Comstock Township Fire Chief Edward Switalski, who was struck and killed by a car while working an accident scene near Kalamazoo on June 14, 2017.

When it comes to fire department challenge coins, you want a supplier that’s been in business long enough to have a track record and a history of satisfied customers. Especially if you’re ordering memorial coins, you want a company that knows how to produce good-looking, durable coins, and will stand behind what they sell.

Most importantly, our artists are talented and experienced. They know the importance of fire department challenge coins, and are dedicated to your total satisfaction with your coins. They take pride in every design they create. They will gladly help you design the perfect coin to remember a fallen colleague.

Just like you, we never forget the people we’re working for, and the reasons behind the coins they order. We know your coins are important to you, and we look forward to serving all your needs for custom coins.