What Is an Enamel Coin?

Enamel coins are modeled after money but imprinted with a customized design often used to commemorate an event or reward the recipient. Like pins, enamel coins can be made with either hard or soft enamel designs.

Hard enamel is filled with color all the way up to the design's stamped edges, the same as it would be with a pin. A hard enamel coin has a smooth, polished surface.

Hard enamel coins have these characteristics:

• Fully filled with solid colored pigment
• A strong polish that makes the metal gleam with a smooth finish
• Vibrant, rich color that can last for years without fading

Soft enamel coins, like their pin counterparts, are more cost-effective, and small details are more noticeable with this option.

Soft enamel coins have these traits:

• Segments aren't completely filled, giving the coin a 3D effect
• Great for more intricate designs
• Faster to produce

What Is an Enamel Coin Good For?

Enamel coins make popular collector's items and can be used to create a token of a special memory, event, or location. Most commonly, though, enamel coins are issued as challenge coins, used to reward the recipient, celebrate their achievements, or denote their membership in a specific group. Challenge coins have deep roots in military tradition but have since been adopted by many other organizations and businesses.