custom challenge coin design

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

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. When your working with us, we want to be as transparent as possible if you’re looking for shirts, you are going to be working with Chuck’s and his Team, If you’re working with metal you will be working with Grady’s Team. 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 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

How to Design Challenge Coins

November 26, 2018 By PNR 5 Comments

So you want to Design a Challenge Coin?

Challenge coins are meant to mean something to the person that’s handing them out and to the person that is receiving them. At Pitch and Rudder, we are dedicated to fostering that emotional connection. So when your designing a challenge coin, that’s where it starts. What is it supposed to mean when you palm someone YOUR Challenge coin? Your Challenge coin could be for your Unit, Division or company but the bottom line is that its being designed by you. You’re designing a challenging coin, so you get to decide what that feeling should be. Now lets not get you spooled up on having to actually draw up the design, we have a team here to make your vision a reality. You give us the concept, what your trying to convey with the coin and our team of experts will design a challenge coin that meets all of your hearts needs!

Designing a challenge coin, the Art.

Once we have the general meaning of your coin laid out, now its time to fine tune what your challenge coin design should look like. First and foremost, this is YOUR challenge coin, so stay away from all the clipart and flash. That’s not a custom challenge coin, that’s a standard challenge coin and with your coin, your going to want something special from the start. Pick a company that has actual graphic designers not just photo-shop wizards.

How to Design a Challenge Coin Tips and Tricks

Now that we have the basics completed, lets take a look at the bigger picture items, are you wanting your coin to be more traditional or big and bold? A mixture of both? Pay attention to the size of fonts and the type of font used. Script font is hard to read no matter what size it is and should be avoided unless it can be used rather large to highlight something special.

3D or 2D? We just covered this topic in an earlier post, using a mixture of both elements can really capture the message that you’re looking for.
Size? How big are you looking to make your challenge coin? The average challenge coins size is 1.75 inches; however, that size is increasing every year. Are you looking to make something that you can palm someone and that they can carry or are you looking to make something that they need to leave on their desk? Deciding this direction early is a must when designing a challenge coin because everything else hangs in the balance.
Color? There are many different ways to add a touch of color to your challenge coins you can use standard color, lucent color or 3D color. Furthermore, you can also change the entire hue of your coin by changing the metal plating. For instance, if your looking to design a challenge coin with a rich wood background, plating the coin silver first is a mistake. It causes the wool grain to be dark and somewhat dirty in color; whereas, if you plate the coin in a gold metal first the lucent brown paint will make your challenge coin design look more warm and real.

So, what happens to those that don’t know all these tips or tricks when they set out to design a challenge coin, be it their first or 15^th coin in production. Well when they are working with Pitch and Rudder; nothing, our design team works fluidly with you, not only assisting you in designing your coin, but also in educating you in why we recommend doing this a certain way.

When designing a challenge coin, experience counts!

In our community if you’re not pressing the boundaries your being left behind. It was that way when our team was in the Military why would we change our behavior when we started a company? Pitch and Rudder is constantly pushing the envelope in designing challenging coins and we can take our experience to help give your vision to life.

Are you looking at designing a coin with a bottle opener attached or cut out? Don’t worry we have designed both.

Are you looking at designing a coin with a golf ball marker? Well how big would you like them? We’ve made markers shaped as bombs, Command Master Chief Pins, circles and oh this one time we made a 3d Coffee cup.

What about puzzle coins? Oh we did those as well, do you want it with magnets or no magnets? Dragons or no Dragons?

The point is, if you can think it, we can help you implement it into your design. We are here to help, because as much as we enjoy designing challenge coins, we collect them even more!

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About the Author, Terry Maynard, CEO and Principle Owner of Pitch and Rudder LLC

Terry is a 22-year Veteran of the United States Navy, a Retired Senior Chief and a loving husband with four children. With 5 years’ experience designing, manufacturing and marketing challenge coins under his belt, it’s easy to see how his experience could help other hone their craft.