British Custom Coins
As one of the oldest allies of the United States, the United Kingdom was among the first nations to be introduced to the U.S. challenge coin tradition. Most often, officers and visiting servicemembers found themselves presented with challenge coins by their U.S. counterparts as a show of regard and many servicemembers were also presented with operational challenge coins during coalition deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since at least the early 2000s, the tradition is not an uncommon practice among members of the various British Armed Forces. Like their American counterparts, British custom coins are used as a semi-official means to mark membership in specific military units or to reward outstanding servicemembers. Currently, British custom challenge coins are most often commissioned during operational deployments or to mark outstanding achievements worthy of praise or thanks.
At Signature Coins, we are experts at designing and crafting unique world challenge coins that honor the service of their recipients and proudly bear an organization’s symbols or insignias. Expertly designed and built to last, our products are found in the collections and pockets of members of the military, law enforcement, and international corporations. Known for our amazing designs and quick turnover, our clients can rely on us to deliver the highest-quality products.
Common Design Elements of Custom British Coins
While growing in popularity, challenge coins among the British Armed Forces aren’t nearly as common as they are in the U.S. military. However, they are especially highly popular with British Armed Forces deployed or cooperating with U.S. Armed Forces. Most British Challenge Coins retain the disc shape of a typical medallion or coin, but feature depictions of British service members and the iconology or symbols of their units. Additionally, as many British custom coins are also exchanged with their partners among U.S. allies, it’s not uncommon to find operational British challenge coins commissioned by either U.S. or British Armed Forces depicting symbols of both military forces.
Common elements or symbols depicted on a custom British coin include unit emblems or insignias and relevant depictions of a specific unit’s roles or responsibilities. For example, a challenge coin commissioned by the Royal Engineers might print the motto “Once a Sapper, Always a Sapper,” while challenge coins commissioned by Defense Medical Services might depict images of medical apparatus or medics at work. By far the most common design inclusions are significant organizational or national symbols such as the Union Jack or a unit’s official patch design.
Additionally, challenge coins created to represent a joint-operation or coalition may include national symbols of each member of the coalition in unison to represent the teamwork and alliances of the forces in question. Officers will often commission their own custom “commander coin” distinct from the coins used to mark membership within a military unit. Commander coins are perhaps some of the most valued coins found in a collection, usually given out as a reward for service well-beyond the call of duty, they mark the direct respect of a commanding officer.
Organizations within the British Armed Forces Known to commission challenge coins include:
- The Royal Navy
- The Royal Air Force
- The British Army
- The Special Air Service
- The Royal Engineers
- Defence Medical Services
- The Royal Marines
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Customizing British Custom Coins
When it comes to customizing a British challenge coin, there is a sheer variety of different organizations and groups which all have different philosophies and cultures that can inspire a host of different ideas. Between differences in symbols and responsibilities, organizations often take design cues from their bases of operation, their specific division, and even the personalities of officers and units that commission the coins. From deciding how to best place the Union Jack to finding new ways to incorporate a unit’s patch, we offer expert advice ensuring each challenge coin is visually and physically distinct.
To meet the need to address a nearly infinite number of ideas, our company offers a near infinite host of customization options for each order of challenge coins including free and premium options for modifying the size, shape, color, edging, plating, and more. Our expert representatives have a wealth of experience designing coins for the military, law enforcement, and international corporations.
Our services allow you to completely modify a coin’s:
- Size - The most common sizes are between 1” to 3”, but we’ve made coins as large as 9”. For most challenge coins we recommend sizing it to at least 1.75” for the best balance between shape and presentation.
- Shape - Challenge coins are traditionally shaped like circular coins, but we can create coins in every shape imaginable including weapons, badges, emblems, or mascots. There is literally no limit to how you wish to shape a coin.
- Color - Choose to leave the coin in its natural metallic color or have it painted with up to seven colors on either side chosen from the full Pantone color spectrum. Different colors a popularly used to depict the colors of a flag or a unit’s specific coloration.
- Coin Edge - There are six different options to decorate the edge every coin, providing a unique look and feel to each order.
- Plating - Plate your coin in antique gold, silver, or copper. Double plate a coin to create and highlight key details.
- 3D Coins - Allow specific details or elements of a design to literally pop or stand out of a coin’s surface by ordering a 3D coin.
- Offset Print - Offset printing creates an exact replica of an image or photograph on the surface.
- Silk Screen - Create a perfectly smooth coin surface by silk screening your design’s colors onto the coin.
- Epoxy Dome - Create a glassy and smooth finish over one or both sides of a coin with an epoxy dome.
- Unique Customizations - If you have an idea you want to integrate into a challenge coin, ranging from adding bottle openers or magnets into a design, we can help you integrate it. With over a decade of experience working with clients, we’ve been met with a variety of different special customization requests over the year and have learned to adapt and find the most suitable ways to build a design to match.
Whether you know from the start what design and symbols you want to incorporate or need assistance in finding the right look, our dedicated team of professional graphic artists work with you at every step.
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Signature Coins Services
Our the years, Signature Coins has worked with hundreds of different clients requesting all manner of unique coin customizations and designs. To most efficiently handle the volume of customers, we’ve developed an efficient three-step process for designing and making custom challenge coins for all of our military clients.
A servicemember’s dedication and loyalty to their country is one of the most important aspects of their service. Through our craftsmanship and products we hope to do our part to honor the nobility and bravery of the British Armed Forces.
Our representatives works with you at every step of the process to help fully conceptualize the look and feel of your order, and find the best dimensions to represent the symbols or slogans of your British coin. Additionally, we take on special requests for any unique customizations a client may have for an order’s shape, size, or utility. Working as an industry leader in the production of high-quality challenge coins, you can trust our experts to work with you.
Start an order today by visiting our form linked below and we promise to send you a free full-color art proof of a coin design within 24 to 48 hours!