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Custom Army Challenge Coins

Over thirty-five years. That's how long The Monterey Company has been turning raw brass into something soldiers actually want to carry. Our custom Army challenge coins get passed hand to hand, slammed on bar tops, and tucked into shadow boxes next to ribbons that took decades to earn. Over 1,000 five-star reviews back that up.

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Free Artwork
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Fast Turnaround Time
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Premium Quality
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96% Recommended on Facebook
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Design Consultation
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Custom Products Custom Coins Custom Army Coins

Popular Custom Army Coin Styles

Every branch has its traditions. The Army wrote most of them. These are the coin styles units order most. From garrison to deployment and every formation in between.

Featured Styles
Custom Army unit coin

Unit Coins

Custom Army retirement coin

Retirement Coins

Custom Army recognition coin

Recognition Coins

Custom Army battalion coin

Battalion Coins

Questions? Our sales team is ready to help.

More Styles of Custom Army Coins

PCS orders. Change-of-command gifts. The coin you hand a private who just earned a tab. Whatever the moment calls for, we build custom Army challenge coins that match the weight of it.

Custom Army graduation coin

Graduation Coins

Custom Army deployment coin

Deployment Coins

Custom Army promotion coin

Promotion Coins

Custom Army company coin

Company Coins

Custom Army rank coin

Rank Coins

Build It Your Way

A coin is only as good as the decisions behind it. Edge cut. Plating. Color fill. Every option here exists because someone asked for it and we figured out how to do it better than anyone else. With 35+ years of doing this the right way.

Video: Coin finishes up close

Watch: Coin Finishes Up Close

Antique copper coin plating

Antique Copper

Shiny copper coin plating

Shiny Copper

Antique bronze coin plating

Antique Bronze

Shiny bronze coin plating

Shiny Bronze

Shiny silver coin plating

Shiny Silver

Antique silver coin plating

Antique Silver

Shiny gold coin plating

Shiny Gold

Antique gold coin plating

Antique Gold

Black nickel coin plating

Black Nickel

Rainbow metal coin plating

Rainbow Metal

Dual plating two tone coin

Dual Plating (Two Tone Plating)

Cut-to-shape coins

Cut-to-Shape Coins

Custom coin sizes

Variety of Sizes

Coin cut-outs

Coin Cut-Outs

Standard edge coin

Standard Edge

Rope edge coin

Rope Edge

Cross-cut edge coin

Cross-Cut Edge

Reeded edge coin

Reeded Edge

Spur edge coin

Spur Edge

Oblique edge coin

Oblique Edge

Bevel edge coin

Bevel Edge

Soft enamel coin

Soft Enamel

Hard enamel coin

Hard Enamel

UV printed coin

UV Printing

YouTube video

Adding 3D Details - 2D vs 3D Coin Video

YouTube video

Die-Struck vs Die-Cast Coins Video

Coin texture wheel showing available finishes

Texture Wheel

Coin pouch

Coin Pouch (Comes Standard)

Acrylic presentation box

Acrylic Presentation Boxes

Coin capsule

Coin Capsules

Velvet presentation box

Velvet Boxes

Velvet coin pouch

Velvet Pouches

Coin display stand

Coin Stands

Numbered engraving on coins

Numbered Engraving

Coin with red transparent enamel

Transparent Enamel

Glow-in-the-dark enamel coins

Glow-in-the-Dark Enamel

Custom back stamp on coins

Custom Back Stamp

Edge or side engraving on coin

Edge or Side Engraving

Epoxy coating on coin

Epoxy Coating

Bottle opener coin

Bottle Opener Coins

Spinner coin

Spinner Coins

UV print over 3D metal coin

UV Print over 3D Coins

Have questions about your coin project? Our design and sales team can walk you through the first sketch to final shipment.

The Tradition

Why the U.S. Army Carries Challenge Coins? And Why Yours Should Mean Something

The tradition didn't start with a general. It started with a lieutenant in World War I who carried a bronze medallion stamped with his unit's insignia and that coin ended up saving his life behind enemy lines. True story. Since then, the challenge coin has become one of the most enduring traditions in the United States Army.

But here's what most people get wrong. Army challenge coins were never just about recognition. They were about proof. Proof that you were there. Proof that you belonged. Proof that someone with authority looked you in the eye and said, "You earned this." That weight separates a custom military challenge coin from a branded trinket.

Today, custom Army coins mark everything from basic training graduation to a sergeant major's retirement. They get passed during handshakes at change-of-command ceremonies. They sit in shadow boxes next to campaign ribbons. They get slapped on tables at Fort Liberty and Fort Cavazos and every VFW hall in between. The tradition hasn't faded. It's expanded. And the coins have gotten better, because the companies making them have gotten better.

At Monterey Company, every Army coin starts with free artwork and a conversation with our Oregon-based staff. No templates. No stock coins. Just custom coin design from a team that understands what a soldier expects when they flip a coin over and read the back.

Customer Stories

Real Orders. Real Soldiers. Real Military Challenge Coins.

We could tell you about the quality. We could talk about our veteran owned roots or the fact that we've been doing this since 1989. But the people who've actually held the finished product in their hands? They say it better. Here's what soldiers, commanders, and unit reps are telling us.

1,000+ Reviews
4.9 Average Rating
35+ Years in Business
Recent customer reviews

The Monterey Company recently designed a challenge coin for the Indiana Army National Guard, and they exceeded all expectations. Despite a tight deadline, they handled everything with professionalism and precision. The final product was absolutely amazing...

Customer testimonial

Anthony Boxley

YouTube video

Hear directly from one of our clients.

We recently ordered custom challenge coins for Search & Support San Antonio, and we couldn't be happier with the results. The quality is outstanding, and the coins truly capture the meaning behind our mission. From start to finish, the customer service was excellent.

YouTube video

Watch a client share their experience working with our team.

Great service and quality! They worked with us to get some last minute patches for a US Navy function and everything arrived on time! Great pricing too. Thanks so much!

Trusted by organizations across every industry

Ceremonies Retirements Recognition Events
Concept → Commissioned Coin

From Napkin Sketch to Minted Brass. See It Happen.

Drag the slider. Watch raw concept art become a finished custom Army challenge coin. This one was struck in solid brass, plated to spec, and ready for presentation. The line between "idea" and "in your hands" is shorter than you think. Free artwork and unlimited revisions mean nothing gets lost in translation.

Finished custom Army coin Original Army coin concept artwork
Concept
Finished Coin
How It Works

From First Contact to Final Delivery. Here's Exactly What Happens

Step 1

Reach Out

Fill out the quote form or call our team directly. Tell us the unit, the occasion, the vibe. Rough sketch on a napkin? Photo of an old coin? An idea that only exists in your head? All of it works. We've started projects from less.

Step 2

Free Artwork & Design

Our designers build a custom coin visual based on your input. You'll receive a digital proof (front and back) with full free color matching, plating preview, and edge detail. Free revisions. Unlimited revisions. We don't move forward until you say it's right.

Step 3

Production

Your approved design goes to our custom coin minting facility. Solid brass, zinc-alloy or an iron base material, precision die striking or casting, plating applied to spec. Most orders complete in 14 to 18 business days. Rush services available.

Step 4

Delivery

Coins ship with tracking via FedEx or USPS. APO, DPO, and FPO addresses handled without issue. Your coins arrive packaged, inspected, and ready to hand out at formation.

More U.S. Army-Inspired Custom Products

Coins are just the beginning. We build custom patches, custom lapel pins, custom belt buckles, custom medals, even custom golf ball markers. All with the same attention to detail and the same no-template approach.

FAQs

Q

I don't have artwork. Can you design my coin from scratch?

Absolutely. Most orders start without finished artwork. Send us a rough sketch, a unit crest, a photo of an old coin, or just describe what you want over the phone. Our designers handle the rest. Free artwork, free color matching, and unlimited revisions until the digital proof looks exactly right. That's not a perk. That's standard.

Q

What's the difference between a die-struck coin and a die-cast coin?

Die struck coins are stamped from flat metal under extreme pressure, they include clean lines, crisp relief, and traditional feel. Die cast coins are poured into a mold, which allows for more complex 3D shapes, cut-outs, and irregular edges. Most Army coins use die striking. If your design has heavy sculptural detail or a custom shape, we'll recommend die cast.

Q

Can I put different designs on each side of the coin?

Yes, and most units do. Front side carries the unit crest or insignia. Back side carries the mission statement, deployment dates, a motto, or individual names. Two-sided coins are the standard for custom military challenge coins. Single-sided coins with a flat or textured back are also an option if the design calls for it.

Q

Do you offer volume discounts for large unit orders?

We do. Per-unit pricing drops as quantity goes up, most noticeably at the 100, 250, and 500 unit marks. Competitive pricing is baked into every custom coin quote we send, and we'll always show you where the price breaks land so you can make the smartest call for your budget.

Q

I ordered coins before. Can I reorder the same design?

Yes. We keep your die and artwork on file. Reorders skip the design phase entirely, which means faster turnaround and lower cost. If you want to tweak something like update a date, swap a name, adjust a color, we can do that too without starting from zero.

Q

What's the difference between 2D and 3D coins?

A 2D challenge coin has flat raised and recessed areas, which are clean, graphic, and easy to fill with color enamel. A 3D image mold adds sculptural depth: curved surfaces, layered relief, realistic texture. Think of 2D as a patch pressed into metal, and 3D as a miniature sculpture. The right choice depends on your artwork, and we'll tell you which one will look better before you commit.

Q

How many colors can I use on one coin?

There's no hard cap. Soft enamel and hard enamel both support multiple colors per side. Most designs use between 4 and 10. UV printed coins handle full-color photographic detail, gradients, and fine text that enamel can't reproduce. Free color matching is included with every custom coin order, so what you see in the digital proof is what you get in the finished coin. We match solid coated Pantone colors.

Q

Can I order coins for a PCS gift or going-away ceremony on short notice?

Yes. Rush services are available for exactly this situation. If your timeline is tight (typically two weeks or less) let us know upfront and we'll tell you what's possible. We've built coins for last-minute PCS orders, surprise retirements, and deployment send-offs that got moved up without warning. Fast service is part of the job.

Q

Do you make coins for other branches and organizations?

We make custom coins for every branch, custom Marine coins, custom Air Force coins, custom Coast Guard coins, custom firefighter coins, and law enforcement coins. We also serve corporate clients, nonprofits, and government agencies. If you need coins for a different branch or organization alongside your Army order, we can handle it all under one roof.