Custom 2D challenge coins for military units, first responder teams, brewery and craft-beer brands, gaming guilds, fraternal organizations, conventions, and collectors. Each coin is double-sided with your design on both faces (same artwork or different on each side, same cost), built in flat 2D relief at 3mm thickness with up to 10 colors of ink.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What 2D coins actually are
2D challenge coins are flat metal coins with your design stamped or struck into the surface and filled with ink for color. The artwork sits at a single relief depth across the coin face — clean, balanced, classic. 2D is the right call when your design is logo-driven, text-heavy, or built around clean illustration that doesn't depend on dimensional sculpting.
For sculpted relief with raised and recessed surfaces (the traditional military challenge coin look), see our 3D challenge coins. 3D adds dimension at extra production cost; 2D is more economical and reads cleaner for graphic-driven designs.
What you get
- Construction: 2D flat-relief, double-sided
- Thickness: 3mm
- Ink colors: Up to 10 colors of ink in your design
- Mold count: 2 molds included (one for each side, even if the artwork is the same on both sides)
- Finishes: Antique gold, antique silver, antique copper, polished gold, polished silver, black nickel, and more — pick the metal tone that fits your aesthetic. Antique + sandblasted finishes give the classic rustic challenge-coin look.
- Express shipping included
For sizes larger than 2" or dual plating (two different metal finishes on one coin), email us for a custom quote. Coins 2" or larger require a zinc alloy base metal instead of the iron used on smaller sizes, which affects pricing.
Other coin options we offer
- 2D challenge coins — flat coin construction with up to 10 colors of ink. Best for designs with text, logo work, and clean illustration.
- 3D challenge coins — sculpted relief construction with raised and recessed surfaces. Best for designs with depth, dimension, and traditional military-coin aesthetic.
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector preferred for clean lines, raster works for full-color), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about a month to your door. That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Prop 65 compliant on metal-and-enamel work, tested for lead and phthalates.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote at the cost of the product. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script.
Common questions
If the artwork is the same on both sides, are coins cheaper?
No. Even when both sides carry the same image, we still need two molds (one per face), so the cost is the same as a coin with different art on each side. Take advantage of the included second mold by running different artwork — branded logo on one side, member name or unit insignia on the other, for example.
What's the difference between 2D and 3D challenge coins?
2D coins have flat relief — the artwork sits at one consistent depth. 3D coins have sculpted relief with raised and recessed surfaces, which gives them depth and reads more like traditional military challenge coins. 2D is more economical and works well for graphic-driven designs; 3D is the move when dimensional detail matters. More on 3D coins here.
What metal finishes are available?
The standard set includes antique gold, antique silver, antique copper, antique bronze, polished gold, polished silver, black nickel, and rose gold. Antique finishes paired with sandblasting give the rustic, military-style look that's most associated with challenge coins. Polished finishes read more modern and brand-forward.
Can I have soft enamel inks like glitter or glow?
Yes, similar to our enamel pin options. Specialty inks add cost; email us with your specifics for an exact quote.
Can I do a single-sided coin?
Yes. A single-sided coin without back posts is priced the same as a hard enamel pin. Email us if you want to spec a single-sided design.
How long do challenge coin orders take?
About four weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. No rush fees.
Do I see a proof before production?
Yes. Digital proof for both sides before production is scheduled. Revisions until you approve.
Are these made in the USA?
Challenge coins are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. Our wooden products and stickers are made in the USA.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
Design Templates
Set up your artwork at the correct size with proper bleed and safe zones using our production templates. Vector files (PDF/AI/EPS) are preferred for clean lines and scaling; raster (PSD) works for full-color artwork at 300dpi.
- Procreate Pin TemplateSet (Vector + Raster bundle)
- 80x54mm Pin Backing Card (Raster PSD)
- 75x100mm Pin Backing Card (Raster PSD)
