Military/Challenge Coins

• Military Coins & Challenge Coins - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Police, Field Coins. We specialize in delivering custom orders of all sizes for military challenge coins.
• Coins - Whether minting commemorative or numismatic coins, tokens, key chains, lapel pins, The Monterey Lapel Pins Company is proud to uphold the highest standards of minting quality.
• Custom Military Coin Pricing

Monterey Lapel Pins Company offers the highest quality custom military coins. If you are looking to have custom military coin then you have come to the right place.

Our Quality is 100% Guaranteed

3-D Sculpted With Color

2-D Die Struck With Color

The Monterey Company is best known for creating the finest custom made coins and our years of experience in custom die making gives us the expertise in making lasting impressions.

Our die struck Custom Military Coins Custom Challenge Coins and medallions are hand crafted and struck from bronze and plated in a variety of finishes.

The Monterey Lapel Pins Company is a leading manufacturer of custom Challenge Coins.

We produce high quality custom military coins, let it it be Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Pentagon, US Commandos and government organizations.

Our coins are DIE-STRUCK from Bronze, not die cast!

Display Options

We offer a complete line of packaging and presentation options. From presentation boxes to neck ribbons or Lucite Embedment's we are sure to have just the right touch for your presentation.

Coin Capsule

Black plastic with red velour double-sided display card and coin capsule. Price includes inserting your coin.

Clear Vinyl Pouches

All of our coins come with a clear pouch at no additional charge.

Plastic Boxes

Plastic boxes with polyester foam pads are excellent for display. Due to potential breakage in shipment, we do not insert items in boxes.

Velvet Boxes

Embedment

Shipping Details

Shipping times 3-5 business days via UPS or 20-30 days via regular mail to an APO/FPO

Pre-production samples: No Additional Charge

FREE - Artwork and design on our custom coins.
Guaranteed - Fast Delivery and outstanding customer service!

We also specializes in designing high quality custom minted coins, tokens and key chains. Working in many metal alloys, our highly skilled engravers, die setters and mint craftsman faithfully reproduce your custom Medals or Medallions in aluminum, brass, nickel-silver, bronze, and even fine silver or solid gold.

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 todiscourage 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.

Reprinted from a Kelly AFB Dining Out Presentation

Our coins are DIE-STRUCK from Bronze, not die cast!

Commander’s Coins" - "Challenge Coins" - "Unit Coins" - "Squadron Coins"

Guaranteed - Fast Delivery and Outstanding Customer Service!

Three Simple Steps to Produce Your Coins

• Choose a size from one of three main sizes (1.5", 1 3/4" or 2") keep in mind 95% of all our coin orders are made in these three sizes. Please call for a quote for larger coin sizes.
• Choose a finish from any of the following: antique silver, antique gold, brass, shiny nickel or shiny gold.
• Artwork by Email (jpg, ppt, or bmp) or fax and we will get back to you. ( Fax 760-729-4072 ) (Call us toll-free at 800-259-6496 or email us today)

Custom Medallions