Challenge Coin Plating Options
Plating is the metal finish on your coin. It sets the color of every raised line, the rim and the lettering. We offer 12 plating options for custom challenge coins, and you can pick yours right in the quote form.
Get a Free QuoteWhat the names mean
- Polished
- A bright, mirror-like shine across the whole coin.
- Antique
- Darkened recessed areas that make raised details and lettering stand out.
- Satin
- A soft matte surface with low glare.
- Black nickel
- A dark gunmetal look.
- Dual plating
- Two finishes on one coin: raised areas in one, recessed areas in the other.
All 12 plating finishes
Digital finish previews. Actual color and sheen may vary. Ask us about finish availability for your design.
Polished Gold
A bright gold-tone finish with a mirror-like shine. A popular choice for awards, retirements and presentation coins.
Polished Silver
A bright silver-tone finish with a mirror-like shine. Clean and versatile, and it sits well next to any enamel color.
Black Nickel
A dark gunmetal finish with a subtle shine. Bold and modern, and bright enamel colors stand out against it.
Antique Gold
Gold with darkened recessed areas that make raised details stand out. A traditional, heritage look, and the finish included on our standard challenge coin.
Standard coin finish
Antique Silver
Silver with darkened recessed areas that make raised details stand out. Popular for law enforcement and veteran coins.
Dual Plating
Antique Gold + Antique SilverTwo finishes on one coin: the raised areas in one metal and the recessed areas in the other, shown here as antique gold with antique silver. Adds contrast without adding color.
Polished Bronze
A warm bronze tone with a bright, mirror-like shine. Softer than gold, with a classic medal look.
Antique Bronze
Warm bronze with darkened recessed areas that make raised details stand out. A classic military coin look.
Satin Gold
Gold with a soft matte surface instead of a mirror shine. Low glare, so fine detail stays easy to read.
Polished Copper
A bright, reddish copper tone with a mirror-like shine. Distinctive and warm.
Antique Copper
Copper with darkened recessed areas that make raised details stand out. A rich, aged look.
Satin Nickel
A silver-gray nickel tone with a soft matte surface. Understated, with low glare.
Pick your plating in the quote form
The quote form shows every finish as a preview, and the one you pick goes on your quote by name. Your design proof then shows that finish on your own artwork before anything is made. See enamel, edge and packaging choices on the options page.
Start Your QuotePlating Questions
US Patriot Coins offers 12 plating options for custom challenge coins: Polished Gold, Polished Silver, Black Nickel, Antique Gold, Antique Silver, Dual Plating (Antique Gold + Antique Silver), Polished Bronze, Antique Bronze, Satin Gold, Polished Copper, Antique Copper and Satin Nickel.
Polished plating has a bright, mirror-like shine across the whole coin. Antique plating darkens the recessed areas, so raised details and lettering stand out and the coin has an aged, traditional look.
Satin plating has a soft matte surface instead of a mirror shine. It gives off less glare than a polished finish.
Black nickel is a dark gunmetal finish. Bright enamel colors stand out against it.
Dual plating puts two finishes on one coin, with the raised areas in one metal and the recessed areas in the other, for example antique gold with antique silver.
No, with one exception. Every single-metal plating is the same price, whether polished, antique, satin or black nickel. Dual plating, which puts two finishes on one coin, is quoted individually.
Antique Gold is the finish on our standard challenge coin. You can pick any other single plating in the quote form at the same price. Dual plating is quoted individually.
Pick the finish in the quote form, where each one is shown as a preview. The previews are digital, so actual color and sheen may vary, and your design proof shows the finish on your own artwork before anything is made.