Short answer: At 100 pieces, a 1-1/4 inch coin from Colucci Custom Awards costs $4.74 die struck, $5.40 soft enamel or $6.04 hard enamel each, plus a $75 one-time setup per decorated side. Signature Coins says challenge coins typically cost $5.25 to $6.69 per coin for a full production run of 100 coins, and Challenge Coins Ltd lists $3.23 each at 100+ for a 1.5 inch coin with no color. Quantity, size, coin type, decorated sides, add-ons and setup move the price.
Key Facts: Colucci Custom Awards Challenge Coins
- Has made awards in Columbia, South Carolina, since 1940.
- Every coin is made in the USA.
- The minimum order is 1 coin.
- Prices are published on the coin pages. Custom orders vary with the customization and design.
- At 100 pieces (1-1/4 inch): die struck $4.74, soft enamel $5.40 and hard enamel $6.04 each. Xpress photo-etched (1-3/4 inch) is $6.00 each.
- Setup is $75 per decorated side for enamel and die struck ($75 to $175 per side by size) and $50 per side for Xpress, so a two-sided coin doubles it.
- Free digital proof and free quote.
- Turnaround depends on the customization and design. Colucci Custom Awards sometimes ships overnight.
Custom Challenge Coin Prices Compared
| Maker | Published price | Quantity the price applies to | Minimum order | Mold or setup fee | Where it is made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colucci Custom Awards | $4.74 to $6.04 each (die struck, soft enamel, hard enamel, 1-1/4 inch) | 100 pieces | 1 coin | $75 per decorated side ($75 to $175 by size) | Made in the USA |
| Coins For Anything | $3.50 antique brass, $3.80 shiny nickel (1.5 inch, color one side) | 100 to 299 pieces | Not published (price tables start at 100) | $99 per side (die mold insurance $39) | Not published |
| Signature Coins | Typically $5.25 to $6.69 per coin | Full run of 100 | 100 (its quote form) | Free on orders over 300 pieces | Not published |
| Challenge Coins Ltd | $5.26 at 50+, $3.23 at 100+, $2.61 at 1,000+ (1.5 inch, no color) | As listed | Normally 50 | $100 at 1.5 inch; none on 300+ (up to 2.25 inch) | Not published |
| U.S. DOD Coins | Publishes a grid by size and quantity | Varies | Not published | $50 one side, $100 two sides (1.5 inch), waived over 300 pieces | Not published |
| GS-JJ | As low as $2.11 per piece in bulk | Bulk | No minimum | Not published | Not published |
| Custom Challenge Coins | Not published | Not published | 25 coins | Molds free at 300+ | Not published |
| Vivipins | Not published | Not published | No minimum | $50, waived on repeat orders within 2 years | Not published |
Sizes differ. The Colucci Custom Awards grid quotes 1-1/4 inch, while the Coins For Anything, Challenge Coins Ltd and U.S. DOD Coins figures are for 1.5 inch. Compare at the same size, finish and quantity, and add the setup fee before you compare.
What Drives the Cost of a Custom Challenge Coin
These factors set your final invoice. Run your numbers through the coin cost estimator as you work through them.
Quantity: Quantity moves the price most. A 1-1/4 inch die struck coin from Colucci Custom Awards costs $5.58 each at 50 pieces, $4.74 at 100 and $3.42 at 1,000.
Minimum order quantity (MOQ): The minimum decides how many coins you pay for. Colucci Custom Awards starts at 1 coin, and GS-JJ and Vivipins also list no minimum. Custom Challenge Coins starts at 25, and Challenge Coins Ltd normally starts at 50. Signature Coins lists a minimum of 100 on its quote form, and Coins For Anything's price tables start at 100.
Size: Bigger coins use more metal and larger dies. Colucci Custom Awards offers eight sizes, from 1-1/4 to 3 inch in quarter-inch steps, and larger coins cost more per coin. Tooling rises too, from $75 to $175 per side.
Coin type: At 100 pieces and 1-1/4 inch, die struck costs $4.74, soft enamel $5.40 and hard enamel $6.04. Xpress photo-etched coins cost $6.00 each at 100 pieces in the 1-3/4 inch size. Die struck shows raised and recessed metal with no color fill. Hard enamel is filled and polished flat, and it costs the most of the three enamel and die struck types.
Color: Color fill adds cost. Ask each maker to quote the same number of colors so the prices line up.
Metal and plating: The finish changes the price. Coins For Anything charges $3.50 in antique brass and $3.80 in shiny nickel for the same 1.5 inch coin at 100 pieces. Thickness matters as well. Coins For Anything lists its standard coins at 3.5mm thick, so ask every maker for thickness and compare quotes at the same spec.
Setup or mold fees: Colucci Custom Awards charges setup per decorated side, $75 to $175 by size for enamel and die struck and $50 for Xpress, so a two-sided design doubles the fee. U.S. DOD Coins charges $50 for one side and $100 for two at 1.5 inch, and waives the fee over 300 pieces. Custom Challenge Coins makes molds free at 300 or more, Signature Coins drops the mold fee on orders over 300 pieces, Challenge Coins Ltd on 300 or more (up to 2.25 inch), and Vivipins waives its $50 mold fee on repeat orders within 2 years.
Add-ons and rush: 3D molds, epoxy, edge text, cutouts and bottle openers raise the per-coin price. Coins For Anything, for example, lists epoxy and bottle openers as add-ons. Rush production adds to the total as well.
Hidden Costs and Delays: Where Custom Coin Orders Go Wrong
Waiting Too Long on the Banquet Date
The banquet date is fixed. The roster and budget often stay open until a few weeks before the event. Turnaround depends on the customization and design, so lock your artwork early and put the event date on your quote request.
Letting the Setup Fee Swamp a Small Order
Setup is a fixed charge, so it hits small runs hardest. At 25 pieces, a 1-1/4 inch die struck coin from Colucci Custom Awards costs $6.97 each plus the $75 setup, about $9.97 a coin all in. At 100 pieces, the same setup adds 75 cents a coin.
A maker with no minimum lets a 12-player roster order 12 coins instead of 50.
Forgetting Shipping Time and Fees
Shipping terms differ by maker. Challenge Coins Ltd ships free to the continental US with APO/FPO/DPO included. U.S. DOD Coins ships free to all 50 states, and APO/FPO/DPO delivery costs extra. Build shipping into your timeline before you approve the proof.
Approving Artwork That Won’t Strike Cleanly
Fine text and soft gradients look sharp on screen but blur on a 1-1/4 inch coin. Simplify small type and check enamel colors against your brand colors on the proof. A free digital proof shows you the result before any money changes hands.
How to Get a Firm Coin Price
Start with your head count and your event date. Then pick the size and coin type, and decide between one decorated side and two.
Compare makers at the same size, finish and quantity. Add the setup fee to the per-coin total before you compare, because on small runs it changes the ranking. For more detail on each maker, compare makers side by side.
Price your design in the coin cost estimator, then request a free quote with your artwork and event date. You get a free digital proof before you commit.
Questions Buyers Also Ask
How much does one custom challenge coin cost?
The per-coin price falls as quantity rises, so a single coin costs more than the same coin in a run of 100. Colucci Custom Awards has a minimum order of 1 coin, so you can order just one. Enter your size and coin type in the coin cost estimator to see the single-coin price.
Why does the per-coin price fall as quantity rises?
Setup is a fixed charge, so a bigger run spreads it over more coins. At Colucci Custom Awards, a 1-1/4 inch die struck coin costs $5.58 each at 50 pieces, $4.74 at 100 and $3.42 at 1,000.
Is there a setup or mold fee?
At Colucci Custom Awards, yes: $75 per decorated side for enamel and die struck coins, rising to $175 by size, and $50 per side for Xpress. U.S. DOD Coins charges $50 for one side and $100 for two, waived over 300 pieces. Custom Challenge Coins makes molds free at 300 or more.
Does a bigger coin cost more?
Yes. A bigger coin uses more metal and needs larger tooling, so both the per-coin price and the setup rise. At Colucci Custom Awards, setup runs $75 to $175 per side, depending on size.
Can I get coins fast?
Turnaround depends on the customization and design. Colucci Custom Awards sometimes ships overnight, so put your event date on the quote request and lock your artwork early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum order for custom challenge coins?
It depends on the maker. Colucci Custom Awards has a minimum of 1 coin, and GS-JJ and Vivipins also list no minimum. Custom Challenge Coins starts at 25, and Challenge Coins Ltd normally starts at 50.
Are custom challenge coins made in the USA?
Colucci Custom Awards makes every coin in the USA. Where the other makers in this guide produce their coins isn't published in the comparison above, so ask each one before you order.
What is the difference between soft enamel and hard enamel coins?
Hard enamel is filled and polished flat, and it costs more. At 100 pieces and 1-1/4 inch, Colucci Custom Awards prices soft enamel at $5.40 each and hard enamel at $6.04 each.
Do I get a proof before production?
Yes. Colucci Custom Awards sends a free digital proof before you commit, so you can check text size and enamel colors first. Send your artwork with your quote request to get started.
