POLICE CHALLENGE COINS
FROM DEPARTMENT TO UNIT

DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY COINS

Department coins are the standard-issue identifier — usually round (or shield-shaped), 1.75" to 2", dual-plated or antique silver, with the department badge or seal centered on the front and the city or county name plus motto on the back. Issued to every sworn officer on the roster (and often to civilian employees at department functions). Departmental coin runs are typically 200–800 pieces for mid-size agencies, scaling up for larger departments.

We've built coins for municipal police, county sheriff's offices, state police and state troopers, university and campus police, transit police, and federal agencies (FBI field offices, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, FAMS, CBP, ICE). Each agency has its own conventions for what goes on the coin — the seal placement, the wording, the finish — and we build to match.

SPECIALIZED UNIT COINS

SWAT and tactical team coins lean tactical: antique bronze, black nickel, sometimes dual-plated with dark backgrounds. Team symbology is usually understated; many SWAT coins use a unit name or call sign rather than the broader department identity. K-9 unit coins often feature the dog silhouette (German Shepherd, Malinois) with the K-9 designation and the handler's name on the back; these are usually small runs for the handler team. Detective bureau coins tend higher finish than patrol pieces — hard enamel, dual plating, often 2.25" for the more substantial command-level feel. Vice, narcotics, and undercover units sometimes order coins with cover names and tactical finishes for operational security reasons.

PROMOTION AND ACADEMY COINS

Promotion coins mark advancement to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, and chief. These are usually one-off or very low quantity, premium finish pieces — often engraved on the back with name and date of promotion. Academy graduation coins are issued to recruit classes at graduation, often the first official department coin they'll carry. Class numbers and graduation dates are featured prominently; recruits sometimes order matching coins for their instructor cadre as recognition.

CITIZEN AND CHIEF'S AWARDS

Chief's award coins recognize citizen service, life-saving acts, outstanding performance, and partnerships with the community. These are premium pieces handed out personally by the chief — usually small runs (50–100 over the course of a year), dual-plated, hard enamel, 2"+. The recipient remembers who handed it to them and why.

MEMORIAL AND END-OF-WATCH COINS

Memorial coins for officers killed in the line of duty are handled with the gravity they deserve. Typically a one-time run for the officer's family, partners, and the department; often features the officer's name, end-of-watch date, and unit. We treat these with extra care on art, extra patience on revisions, and no rush at any step. Pricing on memorial pieces is set to cover production cost only — we don't run a margin on these.

MUTUAL AID AND JOINT RESPONSE

When jurisdictions work major incidents together — natural disasters, major investigations, civil unrest, large-scale events — joint commemorative coins are common. These typically combine the seals of the participating agencies with the incident date and identifier. Mutual aid coins recognize the working partnership rather than any single agency's role.

DESIGN YOUR POLICE COIN ONLINE

Use the free online coin designer to sketch your department or unit coin. Pick a custom shape (shield, six-point star for sheriffs), drop in your badge or seal, set the plating to antique silver or dual-plated, type your department on the upper arc. Submit when ready — refined production proof inside 24 hours, no payment until you approve. Browse other first responder coin types or our first responder buyer guide.