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How Custom Challenge Coins Strengthen Team Unity & Pride
In every successful team—whether it’s a military unit, a first responder squad, a corporate department, or a school club—there’s an intangible bond that holds members together: unity. And at the heart of that unity lies pride—pride in the work they do, pride in their teammates, and pride in being part of something bigger than themselves. For centuries, organizations have sought ways to nurture this bond, to turn a group of individuals into a cohesive, motivated team. But few tools have stood the test of time like the custom challenge coin. More than just a small, metal token, challenge coins are powerful symbols of belonging, achievement, and shared purpose—tools that quietly but effectively strengthen team unity and ignite a sense of pride that lasts a lifetime.
While challenge coins have deep roots in military tradition, their impact has expanded far beyond the battlefield. Today, businesses, nonprofits, sports teams, and community organizations around the world use custom challenge coins to foster connection, recognize effort, and build a culture of pride. In this blog, we’ll explore the history of challenge coins as a unifying force, break down exactly how custom challenge coins strengthen team unity and pride, share real-world examples from different industries, and provide actionable tips for designing and implementing challenge coins that will resonate with your team for years to come.
The History of Challenge Coins: Unity Through Tradition
To understand why challenge coins are such powerful tools for unity and pride, we first need to look at their origins. The exact history of challenge coins is debated, but the most widely accepted story dates back to World War I. During this time, a wealthy Army lieutenant wanted to honor his unit— a group of volunteer pilots who risked their lives every day. He had small, bronze coins minted with the unit’s insignia and gave one to each member of the squadron. The coins were carried proudly by the pilots, a symbol of their shared service and brotherhood.
As the military’s use of challenge coins grew, other organizations began to take notice. First responders—police officers, firefighters, EMTs—adopted challenge coins to honor their own traditions of service and brotherhood. Then, businesses, sports teams, and nonprofits followed suit, adapting the tradition to fit their unique needs. Today, challenge coins are no longer just for the military—they’re for any team that wants to build unity, foster pride, and create a lasting symbol of their shared identity.
How Custom Challenge Coins Strengthen Team Unity: 5 Key Ways
Unity is more than just people working together—it’s a sense of connection, trust, and shared responsibility. It’s knowing that your teammates have your back, that you’re all working toward the same goal, and that your individual contributions matter to the group. Custom challenge coins strengthen team unity in ways that few other tools can, because they tap into both emotion and tradition. Below are five key ways custom challenge coins foster unity within any team.
1. They Create a Shared Identity
One of the biggest barriers to team unity is a lack of shared identity. When team members see themselves as individuals first and team members second, it’s hard to build cohesion. Custom challenge coins solve this by giving every member a physical symbol of their shared identity. Whether it’s a military unit’s insignia, a corporate logo, a sports team’s mascot, or a nonprofit’s mission statement, the design of the challenge coin represents who the team is and what they stand for.
When every member carries the same coin, it’s a constant reminder that they are part of something bigger than themselves. It doesn’t matter if someone is a new recruit or a long-tenured veteran, a junior employee or a CEO—everyone has the same coin, and everyone is equal in their commitment to the team. This shared symbol breaks down hierarchies and creates a level playing field, where the focus is on the team’s collective goals rather than individual titles or roles.
2. They Reinforce Shared Values and Goals
Unity thrives when a team has clear, shared values and goals. Custom challenge coins can be designed to reflect these values, serving as a daily reminder of what the team stands for and what they’re working toward. Unlike a poster on a wall or an email memo, a challenge coin is something that team members carry with them—something they can hold, touch, and look at every day. It’s a tangible representation of the team’s core beliefs, making those values more meaningful and memorable.
In a nonprofit organization focused on environmental conservation, a custom challenge coin might feature a tree, a river, or a wildlife symbol, along with the organization’s mission: “To Protect Our Planet for Future Generations.” Every volunteer and staff member carries this coin, a reminder of their shared goal to make a difference. It unites them in their passion for the cause, even when they’re working on different projects or in different locations.
3. They Build Trust and Camaraderie
Trust is the foundation of any unified team. Without trust, team members won’t collaborate effectively, they won’t share ideas openly, and they won’t feel comfortable relying on one another. Custom challenge coins build trust and camaraderie through tradition, ritual, and shared experience.
The “coin check” ritual, which originated in the military, is a perfect example of how challenge coins build camaraderie. When a team member initiates a coin check, it’s a way to connect with their teammates—whether it’s after a long day of work, at a team event, or even in a high-pressure situation. The ritual is lighthearted, but it reinforces the idea that everyone is part of the same group. It creates inside jokes, shared memories, and a sense of belonging that only comes from participating in a tradition together.
Beyond the coin check, challenge coins are often exchanged between team members as a sign of respect, gratitude, or solidarity. A veteran might give their challenge coin to a new recruit as a welcome gift, symbolizing their trust and support. A team member might give their coin to a teammate who helped them through a difficult project, a gesture of appreciation. These exchanges build emotional connections between team members, fostering trust and camaraderie that extends beyond the workplace.
4. They Encourage Collaboration and Accountability
Unity means working together toward a common goal—and that requires both collaboration and accountability. Custom challenge coins encourage both by reminding team members that their actions affect the entire group. When everyone carries the same coin, it’s a reminder that they are accountable to one another, not just to their leaders.
In a corporate setting, challenge coins can be used to recognize cross-departmental collaboration. For example, if a marketing team and a sales team work together to launch a successful campaign, every member of both teams could receive a custom challenge coin commemorating the achievement. The coin reminds them that their collaboration led to success, and it encourages them to work together again in the future. It breaks down silos and fosters a culture of teamwork, where everyone is focused on the team’s overall goals.
5. They Honor Shared Achievements
Nothing strengthens unity like celebrating shared achievements. When a team works hard to reach a goal—whether it’s winning a championship, completing a difficult project, or hitting a sales target—recognizing that achievement together builds a sense of connection and pride. Custom challenge coins are the perfect way to honor these shared achievements, as they are tangible, lasting symbols of the team’s hard work and success.
Unlike a certificate or a trophy (which often sits on a shelf and is quickly forgotten), a challenge coin is carried by every member of the team. It’s a constant reminder of what they accomplished together, and it serves as a source of motivation for future goals. When team members look at their coin, they remember the late nights, the hard work, and the teamwork that went into achieving their goal—and that memory strengthens their bond.
A nonprofit organization might design a challenge coin to honor a team that raised a record amount of money for their cause. Every volunteer and staff member involved in the campaign gets a coin, a symbol of their collective impact. The coin reminds them that their hard work made a difference, and it unites them in their commitment to continuing the work.
How Custom Challenge Coins Ignite Team Pride
Unity and pride go hand in hand. When a team is unified, pride naturally follows—and when team members are proud of their team, they’re more likely to work together, stay committed, and go above and beyond. Custom challenge coins ignite team pride in three powerful ways: by recognizing individual contributions, by celebrating the team’s legacy, and by creating a sense of exclusivity.
1. They Recognize Individual Contributions (and Make Everyone Feel Valued)
Pride comes from feeling like your work matters—that your individual contributions are seen and appreciated. Custom challenge coins are a unique way to recognize individual effort while still reinforcing team unity. Unlike a “Employee of the Month” award (which singles out one person), challenge coins can be given to every team member who contributes to a goal—reminding them that every role is important, and that their work makes a difference.
Challenge coins can also be used to recognize individual milestones—like a team member’s 5-year anniversary with the company, a firefighter’s 100th rescue, or a student’s graduation from a leadership program. These personalized coins are a meaningful way to honor individual achievements, and they make the recipient proud to be part of the team that supported them.
2. They Celebrate the Team’s Legacy (and Build Pride in the Past)
Pride often comes from knowing that you’re part of a team with a rich history and a legacy of success. Custom challenge coins can be designed to reflect the team’s history, honoring past achievements and reminding current members that they are part of something meaningful. This connection to the past builds pride in the team’s legacy, and it motivates members to uphold that legacy in their own work.
A sports team with a history of championships might design a challenge coin that features the team’s past championship years and the names of legendary players. The coin is a reminder of the team’s success, and it builds pride in being part of a winning tradition. Current players are motivated to work hard to add to that legacy, and they take pride in representing the team’s history.
3. They Create a Sense of Exclusivity (and Pride in Belonging)
People take pride in being part of something exclusive—something that not everyone can join. Custom challenge coins create a sense of exclusivity, as they are only given to members of the team. They’re not available for purchase; they’re earned through membership, service, or achievement. This exclusivity makes team members proud to carry the coin, as it’s a visible symbol that they belong to a special group.
Even in non-military settings, challenge coins create exclusivity. A corporate leadership team might have custom challenge coins that are only given to members of the leadership team. The coin is a symbol of their role and their commitment to the company, and it builds pride in being part of the team that guides the organization. A school’s honor society might give challenge coins to members who maintain a high GPA and demonstrate leadership—creating a sense of pride in academic achievement and service.
Tips for Designing Custom Challenge Coins That Strengthen Unity & Pride
Not all challenge coins are created equal. To maximize their impact on team unity and pride, your custom challenge coins need to be designed with intention. They should reflect your team’s identity, values, and goals—and they should resonate with every member of the team. Below are actionable tips for designing challenge coins that will strengthen your team’s bond and ignite pride.
1. Align the Design with Your Team’s Identity
The most effective challenge coins are those that feel personal to the team. When designing your coin, focus on elements that define your team’s identity: your logo, insignia, mascot, mission statement, or unique symbols. For example, a nonprofit focused on animal rescue might include a dog or cat in the design; a construction team might include a hard hat or hammer. The goal is to create a coin that every team member will recognize and feel proud to carry.
Avoid generic designs—your coin should be unique to your team. The more personal the design, the more it will resonate with your team members and reinforce their sense of belonging.
2. Incorporate Your Team’s Values and Motto
To make your challenge coin a unifying force, include your team’s values or motto in the design. This could be a short phrase (like “Unity & Pride”) or a longer mission statement. The values should be prominent enough to be easily read, but not so large that they crowd the design. For example, a military unit might include their motto on the front of the coin, along with their insignia, and their core values (honor, courage, commitment) on the back.
Incorporating your team’s values reminds every member of what the team stands for, and it reinforces the idea that they are all working toward the same goal.
3. Add Personal Touches (When Possible)
Personal touches can make your challenge coins even more meaningful. For example, you could engrave each team member’s name on the back of their coin, or include a unique number (like their employee ID or military service number). This makes the coin feel like a one-of-a-kind gift, and it increases the recipient’s pride in carrying it.
You could also add small details that are meaningful to your team—like a date (e.g., the team’s founding date, a major achievement date) or a small symbol that only your team would recognize (e.g., a inside joke, a reference to a shared memory).
4. Involve Your Team in the Design Process
To ensure your challenge coins resonate with your team, involve them in the design process. Ask team members for input on the design, the colors, the motto, and the symbols. You could hold a vote to choose the final design, or form a small committee of team members to oversee the design process. When team members feel like they had a say in creating the coin, they’ll be more invested in it—and more proud to carry it.
How to Implement Challenge Coins in Your Team (Step-by-Step)
Designing great challenge coins is just the first step—you also need to implement them in a way that strengthens unity and pride. Below is a step-by-step guide to introducing challenge coins to your team and making them a meaningful part of your team’s culture.
Step 1: Define Your Goal
Before you order your challenge coins, define what you want to achieve. Are you looking to build camaraderie? Recognize a shared achievement? Honor a tradition? Having a clear goal will help you design the right coin and implement it effectively.
Step 2: Design and Order Your Coins
Use the design tips above to create a custom challenge coin that aligns with your team’s identity and goals. Work with a reputable challenge coin manufacturer to ensure quality—look for companies with experience creating coins for teams in your industry. Order enough coins for every member of your team, plus a few extra for new members or special occasions.
Step 3: Hold a Ceremony to Distribute the Coins
Don’t just hand out the coins casually—hold a ceremony to make the distribution meaningful. This ceremony should be a celebration of your team, and it should reinforce the coin’s significance. During the ceremony, explain the history of challenge coins, the meaning behind your team’s coin design, and how the coin will be used to strengthen unity and pride.
For example, a military unit might hold a formal ceremony where the commanding officer presents each soldier with their coin and delivers a speech about the unit’s mission. A corporate team might hold a team lunch or off-site event, where the CEO presents the coins and thanks the team for their hard work. The goal is to make the distribution feel special, so team members understand the value of the coin.
Step 4: Establish Traditions Around the Coin
To keep the coin’s meaning alive, establish traditions around it—like the coin check ritual. Explain the rules of the coin check to your team, and encourage them to practice it regularly. You could also create other traditions, like exchanging coins as a sign of respect or gratitude, or displaying the coin during team meetings.
Step 5: Recognize Achievements with Additional Coins
Use challenge coins to recognize ongoing achievements and milestones. For example, you could give a new coin to team members who reach a work anniversary, complete a training program, or demonstrate exceptional effort. This keeps the coin relevant and reinforces pride in individual and team achievements.
Challenge Coins – More Than a Token, a Symbol of Unity & Pride
In a world where teams are often disconnected—working remotely, spread across different locations, or focused on individual goals—custom challenge coins offer a simple, powerful way to bring people together. They are more than just small, metal tokens; they are symbols of belonging, shared purpose, and pride. They remind team members that they are part of something bigger than themselves, that their work matters, and that they have a team of people who support them.
Whether you’re leading a military unit, a corporate team, a first responder squad, or a youth sports team, custom challenge coins can transform your team. They strengthen unity by creating a shared identity, reinforcing values, building trust, encouraging collaboration, and honoring shared achievements. They ignite pride by recognizing individual contributions, celebrating the team’s legacy, and creating a sense of exclusivity.
The key to success with challenge coins is intention. Design a coin that reflects your team’s unique identity, implement traditions that reinforce its meaning, and use it to recognize and celebrate your team’s hard work. When you do, you’ll create a team that is unified, motivated, and proud— a team that works together, supports one another, and achieves great things.
Ready to design custom challenge coins for your team? Start by reflecting on your team’s identity, values, and goals. Involve your team in the design process, choose quality materials, and hold a meaningful ceremony to distribute the coins. Then, watch as your challenge coins become a beloved tradition—one that strengthens team unity and pride for years to come.
