The best custom police challenge coin makers publish their prices, commit to a delivery window, and accept small orders. Colucci Custom Awards takes orders as small as one coin and publishes pricing that starts at $54. The other six compared here are GS-JJ, Signature Coins, SymbolArts Shop, Vivipins, Coins For Anything and Custom Challenge Coins.
For a police department, the hard parts are rarely the design. They are minimum orders, setup fees and whether the coins arrive before the ceremony. The comparison below uses only what each company publishes on its own website.
Key facts:
- Price from: $54 for photo-etched, up to $167 for hard enamel.
- Minimum order: 1 coin.
- Turnaround: most coin orders are completed within two to three weeks after design approval
- Proof: free digital proof before production
- What is customizable: Enamel style, metal plating, relief depth, artwork, and edge treatment, for department coins, K9 and SWAT unit coins, honor guard and squad coins, retirement and promotion awards, memorial coins, and National Police Week ceremonies in May.
Two things derail a custom police challenge coin order: setup fees nobody disclosed and a ship date nobody guaranteed. Published per-coin pricing and a single-coin minimum remove both.
The table below compares what each vendor puts in writing on its own site. Where a column reads “Not published,” the company requires a quote request before it will name a number.
| Company | Coin types | Minimum order (as published) | Pricing | Design and proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colucci Custom Awards | Soft enamel, hard enamel, die struck, photo-etched | 1 coin | $54 to $167 for a single coin; lower per coin with quantity | Free digital proof |
| GS-JJ | Custom challenge coins, 2D and 3D | No minimum | Online price calculator | Free design |
| Signature Coins | Custom challenge coins, 3D, cut to shape | 100 on its custom order form | Published price grid by size and quantity | Free artwork and quote |
| Vivipins | Custom challenge coins | No minimum | Quote; $50 mold fee waived on repeats within 2 years | Free artwork, unlimited revisions |
| Coins For Anything | Military and custom coins, 3D sculpting, bottle openers | Not published | Quote | Free quote |
| Custom Challenge Coins | Custom challenge coins | Low minimums | Quote; price match program | Free proofs |
| SymbolArts Shop | Stock recognition coins, pins and apparel | Not published | Prices listed per stock coin | Stock designs |
1. Colucci Custom Awards
Colucci Custom Awards makes custom police challenge coins with published prices and a minimum order of one coin, so a department can order a single coin for one retirement or promotion. The same line covers military challenge coins and firefighter challenge coins, and every order starts with a free digital proof of the seal, badge and lettering.
Best for: Departments that need a one-coin minimum and a price before they talk to anyone.
Pricing: Soft enamel $63.50 to $145 each, hard enamel $71 to $167, die struck $55.75 to $138, Xpress photo-etched from $54. Setup is $75 one time, or $50 on Xpress, and the per-coin price drops as quantity goes up. See every style on our custom challenge coins page.
Used for: department coins, unit and squad coins, retirement and promotion coins, memorial coins and National Police Week in May.
2. GS-JJ
GS-JJ sells custom challenge coins with no minimum order, free design and free shipping, and offers 2D and 3D coin styles, cutouts and shapes, per its challenge coin page. It also makes pins and other promotional products.
Best for: Buyers who want an online price calculator and a wide range of coin options.
3. Signature Coins
Signature Coins specializes in challenge coins and publishes a price grid by coin size and quantity (for example, 1.5 inch coins listed from $6.69 each at 50). Its custom order form lists a 100-coin minimum, and it offers free artwork and quotes.
Best for: Departments ordering 100 or more coins that want to see per-coin pricing up front.
4. SymbolArts Shop
SymbolArts Shop sells recognition coins, pins and apparel, with prices listed on its stock coins.
Best for: Buyers who want a ready-made recognition coin rather than a custom design.
5. Vivipins
Vivipins makes custom challenge coins with no minimum order, free artwork and unlimited revisions, and says it waives the $50 mold fee on repeat orders within two years.
Best for: Agencies that expect to reorder the same coin.
6. Coins For Anything
Coins For Anything sells military and custom challenge coins, with options such as bottle openers, edge text, cutouts and 3D sculpting, and offers a free quote.
Best for: Coins with specialty shapes or features.
7. Custom Challenge Coins
Custom Challenge Coins has specialized in challenge coins since 2003, according to its site, with low minimums, bulk discounts, a price match program and free shipping on most US orders.
Best for: Buyers who want to compare quotes and use a price match.
Where Department Coin Orders Go Wrong
- Minimum orders: they range from none to 100 coins among the companies above, so confirm the number before you design anything.
- Setup and mold fees: ask whether the quote includes them, and whether they are waived on a reorder.
- Ceremony dates: National Police Week falls in May and retirements are scheduled months out; get the production window in writing.
- Badge detail: fine lettering, a layered seal and small numerals need a proof checked at real size.
- Coins that get carried: hard enamel is polished flat and stands up better to daily handling than soft enamel.
Which Coin Maker Should Your Department Call First
Start with the number of coins you need. For one to a few dozen coins, pick a maker with no minimum and a published price, so you can build the purchase request without a sales call. For 100 or more, compare published price grids. For more makers across every use, see our guide to the best custom challenge coin makers.
Get a free quote and we will start your digital proof, with no minimum order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much do custom police challenge coins cost?
Cost tracks the manufacturing style and the quantity. Colucci Custom Awards starts photo-etched coins at $54 and runs hard enamel up to $167 for single pieces. The per-coin price drops as the order size grows.
Can we see the coin before we pay?
Yes. Colucci Custom Awards sends a free digital proof of the seal, badge and lettering, and production starts only after you approve it.
What is the minimum order for custom police challenge coins?
Most manufacturers do not publish one, so you learn the number during the quote. Colucci Custom Awards sets the minimum at one coin. A precinct can order a single piece for one retirement or one promotion.
Soft enamel or hard enamel for a police coin?
Soft enamel leaves the metal borders raised above the color, which gives the coin a textured, traditional feel. Hard enamel is baked and polished flat, so the surface is smooth and more resistant to wear. Choose hard enamel for a coin that gets carried daily, and soft enamel for a classic look at lower cost.
How long do custom challenge coins take?
Timelines vary by maker. At Colucci Custom Awards, most coin orders are completed within two to three weeks after design approval.
