It’s one of the most common questions we get here at All About Challenge Coins: ‘Which metal plating should I choose?’
There’s no right or wrong answer, but we find that some plating styles work better than others depending on what kind of challenge coins you need and how you plan on using your challenge coins. With that in mind, here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular plating choices to help you decide which one will work best for your design!
Best for elegant, prestigious, and high-end designs.
High polish plating creates a reflective, mirror-like shine that creates an elevated sense of your coin’s value. Gold is the most popular choice and is often used for military coins, corporate awards, and commemorative coins. Silver has a sleek, modern look that’s ideal for creating a design for a premium brand. The most important thing to keep in mind is that high polish gold and silver are both highly reflective! If there is a lot of exposed metal plating in your design, the small details might be obscured by the reflective surface. Add contrast to your design by including soft enamel colors or adding a sandblasted texture to the recessed areas of your coins.
Best for vintage, detailed, and 3D designs.
Antique plating options offer a more subdued finish that enhances the details of your design. While high polish plating packs an exciting punch, the less reflective surface of antique metal allows the finer details in your design to stand out. Especially if you plan on creating a 3D challenge coin, antique plating is an excellent choice! The curved and rounded edges of a 3D coin with high polish plating will catch the light at all different angles, making it harder to appreciate all the sculpted detail. Antique coins allow for even the smallest elements of your artwork to stand out! Choosing antique plating also means you don’t have to worry so much about having to deal with fingerprints on the metal surface when the coins are handled frequently.
Best for bold designs and character artwork
Black metal is a fun and versatile option for anyone who needs a modern design with incredible contrast. If your logo has bright neon colors, black metal plating will pair exceptionally well. The black base helps the colors pop with more detail. Many of our customers use black metal for coins featuring character artwork and mascots. The black metal creates a sharp black outline for your artwork similar to how a black Sharpie would on paper, helping define the outlines and create bold effects!
Best for rustic artwork and coins with historical themes.
High polish copper and antique copper are a more rare option that gives your coins a unique sense of character you won’t find anywhere else. The reddish-brown color of the copper metal creates a warm, aged look that’s perfect for coins with historical significance or vintage appeal. Similar to antique silver and antique gold, copper plating helps enhance intricate details. Antique copper also doesn’t show fingerprints easily, so if you plan on carrying the coins around, you won’t have to constantly polish them to make sure they’re in tip-top shape!
Best for awards and coins with a high perceived value.
There is one more plating option to keep in mind as you design your challenge coins; dual plating! Dual plating is the combination of two different plating styles to create a unique effect! Keep in mind that high polish metals and antique metals can’t be combined. It has to be two high polish metals or two antique metals. If you want to create a higher sense of perceived value in your coins and give them a prestigious appearance, dual plating is the way to go!
If you have an idea for a coin of your own, just let us know! We’re here to help you bring your ideas to life, so just fill out a free quote form, choose your favorite plating style, and we’ll take care of the rest! We’re looking forward to working with you!
