MILITARY COINS FOR SALE
For years the military has used military coins to raise money for their various projects. The “cup and flower” fund is often the source of unit related custom challenge coins. Every member of a unit wants to have one of these in their pocket. Often they send them to relatives and friends because they are proud to be a member of their unit.
CHALLENGE COINS FOR DINING IN/OUT
Many military units conduct annual dining-in/dining-out evenings. It is traditional for every guest to have a memento to remind them of the event. In the past it has frequently been coffee cups, wine glasses and the like that were chosen serve this purpose. Challenge coins are perfect for the task. At a cost about the same as an inexpensive wine glass each participant can have something that they will treasure for years to come.
HOW DO I DESIGN THE CUSTOM COIN?
Here is a great way to have fun at the dining-in or dining out and make this easy. When you announce the event offer a ticket to whoever has the winning design for the event’s coin. At the Dining-in you can have a ceremony to recognize the challenge coin designer and perhaps present him with a special edition of the coin.
SPECIAL EDITION CHALLENGE COINS FOR EVENTS
Once you have a design it is possible to make it far more valuable than just an attendee gift. Banquets such as the Marine Corps Birthday dinners are a whole lot of work. Many people combine to make these things successful. Why not create a special edition coin to reward them for their work. The way to do this affordably is to order some of these special coins in a different finish than the standard coin. For example, if the coin for the attendees are silver you can have a few plated in gold (usually this does not cost extra) and give the gold plated coins to the people who offer special help. It is inexpensive and something they will treasure as they will know that this is a very special award coin.
GUEST SPEAKERS
In my time I have attended my share of Army Birthday Balls. The poor guest speakers have a tough task. As we tend to invite notables to speak they are usually quite familiar with their task. But every time they speak the get yet another custom plaque. Why not give them a custom coin, in a special finish and presentation box to thank them for their participation? They will thank you for not having to store another plaque in their garage. Some manufacturers even offer the option of sterling silver or pure silver editions of an established challenge coin for these very special people.
YEAR TO YEAR
You can leave next years Navy Birthday Ball (for example) committee with a much easier job. All they need to do is follow the tradition of the challenge coin you have established.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE THERE TO GET ONE
If there is a beneficiary for your event such as the unit fund or a charity, why not sell the custom coin to anyone who wants to support your event? That way even if someone can’t attend they can still support the event by purchasing the custom challenge coin. Members of the sponsoring unit can even buy the custom medallions for their friends and family.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS
Please share with us your ideas for using challenge coins. There are probably many that many of us have never considered.