Much like the military, unity is absolutely essential to the success of any sports team. At both the collegiate and professional levels of sports, team unity could be the make or break factor that decides whether a team has what it takes to win a championship. With that said, it should come as no surprise that both collegiate and professional teams are looking to challenge coins to inspire their athletes and promote the idea of team building.

Challenge coins have long been used by the military with the intentions of boosting camaraderie among the troops, and also honoring those that performed an act worthy of recognition. Their history has been well documented, and there are countless success stories that give evidence of their effectiveness in increasing morale.

The world of professional sports has taken notice of the impact that challenge coins have had in the military. Teams are looking for ways to use customized coins in their organizations to encourage performance improvement. One professional sports team that has made use of coins is the National Hockey League’s 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.

Boston Bruins Build New Tradition with Challenge Coins

After Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference received a Ranger challenge coin from a friend in the Army, he realized that his team could use similar customized coins for bonding purposes. In coordination with team officials, Ference created Boston Bruins challenge coins for each of his teammates.

The challenge coins feature the Boston Bruins logo and the words “Old Time Hockey” and “Since 1924” along the front edges. On the backside, the coins feature the city of Boston’s seal and the jersey number of each teammate. Similar to the military tradition, there are informal rules related to when a teammate can earn their own challenge coin. For example, rookies must wait to get their challenge coins until they have completed various team-oriented tasks.

Using Challenge Coins to Honor Local Amateur Sports Teams

Professional sports teams are not the only ones using challenge coins in athletics. Many collegiate teams are using them to encourage unity among the older and younger members of the team. Local teams involved in youth sports are also finding ways to use customized coins. Coaches of youth teams use the coins to reward unselfish play, and excellent sportsmanship. The custom coins are used to promote team play, as well as to encourage strong practice habits.

For some, such coins give individuals and teams a goal for which they can strive. For others, it provides for a bonding experience between the team that may not have seemed feasible through other manners. And finally, some youth leagues use baseball challenge coins for trading amongst each other at tournaments.

Although customized coins used for sports don’t hold the exact significance as those used by most military officials, they are very similar in nature. Those that hold the coin represent the organization in every action and statement that they make. As such, the challenge coin serves as a reminder to work hard, and to value teammates.

If you are thinking about ordering challenge coins for your sports team, you’ll be able to find the information you need by visiting the Challenge Coins Limited website.

The race for NASCAR challenge coins is on. Professional NASCAR drivers now distribute these popular customized coins to fans and friends. Originally American soldiers collected and traded these coins, but now superstar race car drivers like Jeff Gordon have a special coin they give to commemorate victories and share with fans and children.

Jeff Gordon Shares Challenge Coins with Fans and Children

Number 24 is one of NASCAR’s most respected and accomplished racers. He has won four series championships, has placed first in three Daytona 500s, and has the third most wins in the sport’s history. To show his appreciation for his fans, Gordon gives out challenge coins to celebrate his biggest accomplishments. In honor of his 400 wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he had a challenge coin designed and distributed.

Gordon loves to give back to those less fortunate. That’s why he has a special challenge coin for the sick children he visits. As the founder of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, Gordon spends time with kids who are stricken with cancer and other life threatening diseases. Gordon decided he wanted to give them something more meaningful than just another signed baseball cap, so he now gives this unique coin to children he meets. These tokens mean a great deal to the children. In one case, a parent buried their child with the coin, because it meant so much to them.

Fan Favorites Past and Present Use Challenge Coins

Jeff Gordon is not the only one in NASCAR with a customized challenge coin. Other great racers who have their own coin include:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Bobby Labonte
• Tony Stewart
• The Legendary Number 3

Other NASCAR teams who sell the coins are Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motor Sports, Roush Racing, International Speedway Corp, and Dale Earnhardt Inc. All of these race car drivers offer their challenge coins at concession stands during any big race, sports memorabilia shops, and online websites. In fact, some of them are beginning to team up with companies outside of NASCAR and create limited edition collections.

Limited Edition NASCAR Challenge Coins

In 2005, Movie Gallery, Coca-Cola, and SportsCoins came together and released a limited edition Racing Family set featuring the legendary family race teams. Some of the families include:

• The Labontes
• The Jarretts
• The Pettys
• The Earnhardts

The families who have driven in NASCAR are too many to count, but what a great way to commemorate all they have done for the sport than creating these limited edition challenge coins. The popularity of the coins indicates that challenge coins are here to stay in the fastest sport on four wheels.

NASCAR and challenge coins are a perfect match. Both have a long tradition in American culture, and both provide amusement and joy for enthusiasts. NASCAR fans look for memorabilia to celebrate their favorite driver’s victories and career, so what better way than with a customized challenge coin. They can be designed for any occasion, so you don’t have to wait until you get tickets to the big race to purchase them. If you’re interested in getting a coin made to get your fans or members all excited, contact us via the web or phone to talk more about your ideas.

Did you know that challenge coins could be shaped like a dog tag? Dog tags were originally used in war to provide important information about a soldier, such as name, blood type, religion, etc. Over the years, they have become something of a novelty for soldiers and civilians. Now with the new design options of challenge coins, dog tags can display all kinds of creative images and symbols. Knowing the design options that are available to you will help you to customize the perfect challenge coin dog tag.

History

Military service people around the world use dog tags. What every country’s dog tags have in common is they are used to provide vital information for each individual soldier.

Going back to the United States Civil War, soldiers realized that they needed some kind of identification to be recognized if they were mortally wounded in battle. This way their family members would be able to bury them. Because they did not have customized dog tags, soldiers would attach a piece of paper on the back of their coats with their name and home address. Others would carve their identification information on the back of a belt buckle.

After the Civil War, it became clear that there was a need to provide soldiers with a way to be identified. That’s when dog tags became standard military paraphernalia. Since then, dog tags have been provided in every major American war including:

• World War I
• World War II
• Vietnam

Dog tags are still used today by military combatants around the world. Thanks to innovations offered by manufacturers of challenge coins, dog tags have all kinds of new designs on them.

Design

When looking for a challenge coins in the form of a dog tag, you want to consider a number of things. One of the first questions you should ask yourself is: how do I want to carry my dog tag? Challenge coins shaped as dog tags can connect to a key chain, tie around your neck, or simply be placed in your pocket. A new trend that you might find fun is having your challenge coin dog tag designed as a bottle opener. It all depends on your preference.

The shape of your tag is also an important element. Some classic shapes of dog tag challenge coins that you may want to consider include:

• Rectangular
• Oblong
• Octagon
• Hexagon

Once you’ve decided on its purpose and shape, you’ll want to consider how you want to display your chosen design. Dog tag challenge coins can display designs in two ways:

• Horizontal
• Vertical

The horizontal display is ideal for tags with large pictures or emblems, while the vertical design has a teardrop look that many collectors find unique. In order to decide which one is right for you, first consider the imagery you want displayed on your dog tag. There are countless styles to pick from.

Classic Symbols

You design your traditionally shaped challenge coins how you like, and the same is true for dog tag challenge coins. Some of the classic designs include:

• Military branch seals (e.g. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Joint Chief of Staff)
• American Eagle
• Business card with owner’s signature and business address
• Engraving of a special date in history to honor heroics, hard work, and accomplishments

Very often dog tag challenge coins commemorate a special moment, or recognize unity and friendship between members of an organization. Whatever the purpose for your dog tag, make sure it includes the unique elements of the moment.

For almost one hundred and fifty years, baseball teams around the United States have used collectible items to recognize and honor those playing the game. From Little Leagues across the country to Major League Baseball, such items as trading cards, pins, pennants and more have been distributed, collected, traded, and sold by kids and avid adult collectors. In the last few years, challenge coins have grown increasingly popular among Little League teams due to their customizability and collectability.

Baseball challenge coins can be customized to feature team slogans and logos, photos, and even player numbers. The potential design ideas are limitless, and they can vary in shape and size. Their durability and form factor make them a logical choice for little leagues, as they don’t have to worry about creasing them, or being pricked by a sharp point.

Customized baseball challenge coins are starting to pop up in Major League Baseball stadiums around the country as well, further fueling their popularity at the Little League level. Aspiring baseball superstars eager to have some sort of connection to their favorite Major League Baseball team love the idea of having a customized challenge coin for their own Little League team.

Using Baseball Challenge Coins to Symbolize Team Solidarity

Challenge coins have been used for decades in the military to build morale and unity among units. Similar to the manner in which they been used at the military level, Little League baseball teams have used them to symbolize team solidarity. Each member of a team is given a baseball challenge coin with the team logo, slogan, or some other unifying image or text.

Some teams require their players to have their team’s baseball challenge coins with them at all times to represent their commitment to their team. Others, however, allow their players to display the coins as they see fit, and even trade them with members of other teams. In fact, the trading of baseball challenge coins has become so popular that many Little League teams issue each player more than one coin to make such exchanges possible.

Honoring Champions with Baseball Challenge Coins

Many Little Leagues around the country are even replacing the traditional trophies and certificates with baseball challenge coins as a way of honoring the league champions, or simply all of those that participated for the year. While trophies are clunky, and can take up a lot of space when displayed, baseball challenge coins are made to a convenient and easily displayed size and shape. Because baseball challenges are customizable in nearly every aspect, they make for the perfect keepsake to meaningfully honor championship teams.

Customizing Your Team or League’s Baseball Challenge Coins

When planning your order of baseball challenge coins for your team or league, you should first and foremost consider the following:

• The number of coins you will need to order.
• The size and shape of the coin.
• The design of the coin.

Before placing your order, it is a good idea to determine exactly how many coins you plan to have made. The best way to come up with the right number for your order is to ask yourself the following questions:

• How are the coins going to be used? To honor a championship team or superstar player? Or to be given out for to each player in the league or on a team as a token of participation?
• How many baseball challenge coins will each player receive? Will the players be given just one for keepsake purposes, or will they be given multiples and encouraged to trade?

After you have decided the perfect quantity for your order, you’ll then want to decide what size and shape you would like for the coin. Baseball challenge coins are commonly round in shape so as to maintain the same form factor as a ball. The size that you choose, however, will depend on the design that you would like your coin to feature.

When choosing a design for your baseball challenge coins, you’ll likely first want to get an idea as to how the coin will be used. If the coins will be given to the championship team in some kind of ceremonial fashion, you wish to have a design and text that reflects their accomplishment. On the other hand, if the coin is to be used as a means of building team solidarity, you may want to include the team logo and slogan in the design.

Surfboard shaped challenge coins for the 324th Intelligence Squadron in Hawaii.

When we think about the Hawaiian Islands, surfing naturally comes to mind. The two basically go hand in hand. That’s why the 324th Intelligence Squadron based at Hickam Air Force Base, HI chose to use the shape as the basis for their coin.

Measuring 2.50″ in height and plated in high polished bronze, the 324th challenge coin displays the Squadron’s logo and many tell-tale Hawaiian attributes. Note the Tiki, lava mountain range, and red and white pua aloalo flowers spread about the obverse side.

The reverse side uses the island chain and all too familiar saying in Hawaii, “Mahalo Nui Loa” which translates to “Many Thanks!.”

Is your unit or group based in Hawaii and interested in having custom coins made? If so you can give us a call at 1-800-818-3229 to discuss your project. We have the ability to feature your very own local design into a challenge coin with ease. Visit our gallery or coin design page to see other designs that may help you along the way.

This summer, you’ll be everyone’s favorite person with your challenge coin bottle opener. These bottle openers can be manufactured with any custom design or color scheme you like.

They make for an excellent promotional item and can be great giveaways at retirement parties, bachelor events, or just about any celebration you can think of. Add an extra touch to your order with numbering or edge engraving for even more personalization.

Guaranteed to work: While similar coins are just for “show”—these custom bottle opener coins are 100% able to open a bottle of beer when our guidelines are followed*. We use the right specs in the design process to make sure they are functional, every time.

Our talented team of designers can even add a second cutout in your coin bottle opener so that it can be worn on a necklace or key chain for easy access!

Challenge Coins and Drinking: A Perfect Combo

Considering the history of regular challenge coins, it’s surprising that it has taken this long for the challenge coin bottle opener to arrive. Drinking and challenge coins have been popular with soldiers since World War I.

Part of the fun of challenge coins is “challenging” fellow soldiers to show their coins at local bars and other social settings. If a soldier does produce the coin, they have to buy a round of drinks. Now any challenge coin collector who enjoys a cold brew on a summer afternoon can pop the top off their favorite beer with a custom challenge coin bottle opener.

A New Take on the Challenge Coin

Becoming very popular as commemorative or memorabilia giveaway coins, the new take on the coin is a pop-top challenge coin bottle opener. It comes in a variety of custom shapes and sizes.

• Round
• Cowbell shaped
• Dog Tag shaped
• Rectangular, Octagon, Pentagon and so on

Anything Can Be Put on the Challenge Coin Bottle Opener

Just as other custom challenge coins this type coin can represent the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Firefighters, Policeman, or even a congressional group, a corporate group or a personal group. Use your imagination and most any company catering to the challenge coin should be able to help you design and customize a coin for your needs and purpose. The challenge coin can be made of:

• Copper
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold

The stronger metals are the best choice for the custom bottle opener. They will be able to be functional and relatively indestructible. The front and back lettering and insignia or logo can be raised, painted and have an epoxy dome finish or can simply be brushed, polished or antiqued. Its finish can be smooth or rough. The rim is smooth and even around and flush to the front and back. The edge of round shapes can be diamond cut, roped, or even flowered. There are many, many characteristics that can be applied to make this coin your very own.

Functionality and Sentiment are Expressed with These Coins

Challenge coin bottle openers are used at home, in bars and other social gatherings. These custom coins are a spectacular hit and conversation piece at any barbecue or pool party. What an asset it would be to have one of these bottle openers on hunting or fishing camping trips. They are given at conventions, parties, ceremonies, assemblies, dedications or any other special event you might want to commemorate. The recipients are usually being honored or awarded for something they have done or participated in. They promote camaraderie and loyalty. Admirals, chiefs, and presidents have given these coins. They are long lasting and forever a reminder of the event and spirit in which it was given.

At Challenge Coins Limited, we offer you the ability to customize your challenge coin bottle opener just as you would like it. We offer you many choices to consider including:

• Various shapes and sizes
• Different fronts and backs
• Various metals
• A plethora of insignias, logos and slogans

A pricing chart and a toll-free phone number is available below, so you can call if you want to customize your coin or speak with a representative that can help you with the information you are looking for but can’t find.

We look forward to hearing your challenge coin ideas and helping your unit or group come up with a lasting bottle opener bearing your trademark or emblem – just give us a call to begin the process. We offer free design services so you can see what your coin will look like before you spend a dime. It’s just part of what makes the Challenge Coins Limited experience superior to the competition.

Geocachers use tracking systems to hunt for “treasure” like pirates of old, minus the pillaging and poor hygiene. The treasure is not gold or anything of substantial monetary value, but instead, unique items called geocaches that are hidden by other geocachers. Geocoins make for the perfect geocaches due to their coin shape and customizability. While they are not typically worth much of anything money-wise, the reward for finding them is the enjoyment that one gets out of the adventure.

Geocoins and other types of geocaches can be anywhere, from your own neighborhood to the other side of the planet. More than one million caches are to be found all over the globe. Cachers do not typically keep caches when they find them. Rather, they leave them in place, or move them to another location for other cachers to find.

“Pieces of Eight!:” Geocoins As Booty

Geocoins are often used for geocaching. Like pieces of eight or gold doubloons, these special challenge coins can resemble riches from a treasure chest. Geocoins are often personalized with the state or name of a cacher. They can be inscribed with tracking numbers or tags that trace the “hitch-hiking” token’s journey.

Are Geocachers Pirates?

Geocaching is popular with hikers and recognized by the United States Forest Service as a legitimate outdoor activity. Geocaching is discouraged in some National Parks because it could potentially harm wildlife or disrupt traffic on popular footpaths. To some, caches seem like litter and aren’t appropriate in designated wilderness areas. But geocachers follow codes that hold them responsible for the maintenance of their geocaches. Sometimes they even use virtual caches that don’t involve objects or logbooks and respect the low-impact guidelines of wilderness areas. However, mischief-inclined cachers can plant “evil caches” that are purposefully difficult to recognize.

A “Hi-Tech” yet Rustic Hobby

Geocaching is a “hi-tech” hobby that inspires seekers to go outdoors and explore with friends. In the early 2000s, when geocaching began, the cachers relied on GPS systems to find geocoins and other caches. Now, apps make caching accessible to smart phone owners. Geocaching apps offer cache locations, clues, and a simulated compass. With a little imagination, an iPhone screen is a crinkled pirate map, and the blue dot position locator is the “X marks the spot.” Cachers, through their adventures, are linked to fellow treasure hunters. They can share their experiences on the Internet or sign their names in cache logbooks. Uncovering caches offers a sense of accomplishment to seekers whether they are “FTF” (first to find), or among other successful searchers.

The Value of Geocoins

Geocoins are technically not coins, but medals. Coins are created by governments and have financial value. A medal is meant to commemorate something, as opposed being spent like money. Military challenge coins, medals that honor patriotic deeds, inspired geocoins. Both traditional challenge coins and geocoins have a positive influence on developing leadership skills and community building,

If you would like to order geocoins, and join in on the treasure hunt like activity of geocaching, please fill out your quote for challenge coins today.

Known as “The Friendliest Casino in America,” the American Canyon, California based Napa Valley Casino wanted to extend their hospitality in the form of a challenge coin that reflected their unique and regional-specific logo. The designers at Challenge Coins Limited were able to use the existing logo to create and mint a very attractive coin for their use.

At first glance one should recognize the tell-tale grape vines indicative of this region of California. These grape vines encase the “NVC” and the outer edge of the design mimics an actual poker chip. Combining wine country appeal in gold plating and authentic poker-chip characteristics are just another example of how versatile a custom coin can be.

NVC features over a dozen poker tables and other venues for the serious player or casual visitor. It wouldn’t matter what time of day you plan to visit as their doors are open day or night, at all hours. Local and regional tournaments are held at certain times of the year, and if you are lucky enough, you may even get a glimpse of the coin we were a part of.

No matter what your need, Challenge Coins Limited can use your logo or brand to design a coin you would be excited to pass out. For local casinos or national brands, we’ve got you covered! Call us at 1-800-818-3229 or email info@challengecoinsltd.com

We’ve found that one thing remains constant when it comes to designing coins, and that is that everyone wants their challenge coin to be somehow “different” than the next. One feature that isn’t so often utilized is our glow in the dark enamel color fill. This special coloring allows for any area that is able to colored to glow when exposed to any light source, and then presented in darkness. The coin above is just one example of how this option can be used, but keep in mind any area of your coin can be made to glow.

Challenge Coins Limited has minted many of these coins approaching Halloween, a few for our corporate customers, and hundreds using this technique for military units. An interesting application for this option is coding. Some clients have filled only select areas of their coin with glow in the dark enamel so that a hidden message, or code, is seen only when the coin is viewed in darkness. Additions like this can make your challenge coins really stand out from the crowd in terms of originality. Most recently, a company that specializes in Night Vision equipment used the glow in the dark enamel for their coin – a perfect fit given that the enamel glows in a “greenish color” that is often seen through a viewfinder on such equipment.

One downfall of the glow in the dark option is that you won’t want to combine it with an epoxy coated challenge coin. The epoxy will limit the amount of light that interacts with the special enamel, causing a diminished “glow” effect. While most of the coins we sell don’t have an epoxy coating, we thought we would point this out before you decide to take your design to the next level with this option. We actually learned the hard way – experience counts!

To find out more, reach out to us via our website or email at: info@challengecoinsltd.com.

Is your Chamber of Commerce celebrating a significant milestone in your community? The Sumter, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce used our services to design a challenge coin for their upcoming 100th Anniversary celebration on May 16th, 2012. Their coin shows the historic building on one side and colorful representations of the Sumter, South Carolina area on the other. This coin is plated in high polished silver with a standard edge at 1.75″ in size. The first 500 coins will be used at the event as celebratory pieces with more coins being rolled out at a later date.

Custom coins are great for any event, large or small. Since they are a hard, durable good…they don’t get tossed aside or end up in the trash can when your event is over. People tent to collect and display these coins over time. In fact, they have even evolved into a new business card of sorts.

If you are in the Sumter area on Wednesday, May 16th, stop by and join the festivities. The even will be held at the Sumter Civic Center located at 700 W. Liberty Street with drinks being served at 6:30pm and dinner beginning at 7:00pm. There will also be a silent auction, live music, photography and additional cuisine offered. Please call 803-775-1231 for complete details.

Sumter, South Carolina is centrally located in the middle of the State and is widely known as the Gamecock City. It’s diverse culture and business elements make it ripe for growth, and with under 100 miles from the beach one might see why this is a desirable place to live and raise a family.

Put your event on a custom coin by contacting the experts! Challenge Coins Limited works with organizations big and small to find an attractive and tasteful solution to their celebration needs. With our creative artists and exemplary service, this is one task that your organizer won’t have to stress over. Call 1-800-818-3229 to get started.