SymbolArts Jewelry - Quality Challenge Coins

SymbolArts Challenge Coins are of the highest quality and custom-made to your specifications. They are die-struck in solid brass or iron with fine detail and vivid colors. They are offered in a variety of finishes, shapes, sizes and degrees of relief. With each custom-made challenge coin we offer very competitive pricing.

Coin features include:

• A coin handcrafted and custom designed
• A coin that can have a variety of custom edges
• A coin that can have high detail and relief
• A coin that is highly polished
• A coin that has dimensional detail in 2D or 3D
• A coin full of color enameling
• A coin with soft or imitation hard enameling

Because of the exquisite detail, durable construction, and beautiful colors of a SymbolArts coins they are used across the country and worldwide by police departments, fire/rescue departments, labor unions, colleges, security personnel, government, private clubs, associations, fraternities & sororities, families, sports teams, and all branches of the military - Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and the Coast Guard around the world.

SymbolArts coins have many uses. Here are just a few ideas:

• Coins for department branding
• Coins for community awards
• Coins for collecting and trading
• Coins for identification
• Coins to build department morale
• Coins to build unity and cooperation
• Coins to celebrate anniversaries
• Coins for special events
• Coins for special events
• Coins for community policing
• Coins to show status
• Coins for executive awards
• Coins to display on uniforms for accomplishment

History of the Challenge Coin

During World War 1, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck.

Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilots' aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification.

He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.

Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.

We proudly continue this tradition today with the challenge coin.

A coin is a coin is a coin

So whether you call a coin, a challenge coin or challenge coins, military coin or military coins, police coin or police coins, custom coin or custom coins, collectible coin or collectible coins, custom coin or custom coins, law enforcement coin or law enforcement coins a coin is a coin unless you buy a SymbolArts coin then you have the best quality coin by whatever name you call it. We dare you to give it a try.

Besides coins, SymbolArts has many other products to meet your insignia needs including: badges, pins, key chains, patches, wallets, service awards, belt buckles, medallions, jewelry and more.

Give us a call at 801-475-6000 and any of our customer service representatives can offer you a FREE quote, FREE artwork, or FREE ideas that can help you in your decision making process.