DIY Challenge Coin Holders to Display Your Coins

You’ve got your challenge coins, but how do you want to display them?

In this article, we’ll go over a couple of DIY challenge coin holders that you can make yourself.

Whether you’re a seasoned craft expert or a total newbie, we’ve got a few ways in which you can create a challenge coin holder.

You’ll just need your special challenge coins, some craft supplies and a little bit of a willingness to experiment.

Read on for some exciting ways to display your favorite challenge coins.

What are Challenge Coins?

Before we go any further, let’s discuss what exactly challenge coins are.

Originally, they were only given to military personnel. These coins are often handed out to members of platoons as a symbol of pride. Individuals can either display them in their home, put them on a ribbon like a medal or keep them in their pockets.

There are conflicting testimonies that discuss the advent of the challenge coin, so no one is 100% certain where they originated.

One story states that in Germany, challenge coins became popular after World War II. They were so-called challenge coins because in bars, military men would challenge their friend to have the platoon coins with them. If they didn’t, the friend would end up having to buy that round of beer.

In the United States, one of the first challenge coins minted was that of Colonel “Buffalo Bill” Quinn of the 17th Infantry Regiment. He gave them out to his men during the Korean War.

Now, challenge coins can represent almost anything. You can purchase them custom made for weddings, graduations, and other such events.

This website has a myriad of coins available for you to purchase online for almost any occasion.

Shadow Frame Challenge Coin Holder

If you don’t have a lot of craft know-how, you can still make an excellent challenge coin holder. This one is probably the easiest you can do.

Purchase a shadow frame or other frame with depth at your local art store or craft supply store. Then, purchase some fabric and some cardboard or poster board.

Cut the poster board or cardboard to be the exact size as the inside of the frame. If the frame comes with its own backing, using that as a guide. Trace it onto your poster board or cardboard and then cut it out.

Now, cut your piece of fabric to be a similar size to your cardboard or poster board cutout, but about a half inch to one inch bigger on each side.

Put the poster board down on the middle of your fabric square.

Take a glue gun and run it around the edges of your poster board or cardboard. Then, pull the excess material around and glue it to the back of the board, creating a crease-free background on the front side of the poster board.

If you prefer, you can also use a stapler to staple the ends to the back.

Placing the Challenge Coins in the Shadow Box

Place your challenge coins on the front of the cardboard. Place the frame on top of it. Carefully press down and turn the frame over. Replace the backing on the picture frame.

Hang your challenge coins as desired.

It may take a few tries to get the challenge coins to line up right in the middle, but once you get it, it will look fantastic. And there’s very little artistic talent required!

Create Your Own Wooden Challenge Coin Holder

This is a great project if you have a little wood-shop know-how and a large challenge coin collection. You can customize it to show exactly how many challenge coins you have.

This is also a great project for a first time, or beginner, wood-shop hobbyist. It’s also a great father-son or grandfather-grandson bonding activity.

First, you’ll need a piece of wood that it at least as thick as your largest challenge coin. You can measure the coin against the wood, or cut the wood to size.

You’ll need to lay out your challenge coins on a piece of wood to determine how big you want the display case to be. Then, cut the first piece of wood into the desired shape.

Customizing Your Holder

Cut out another piece of wood that is an identical shape. You can also cut one out that is a little bit larger than the other piece to create a stair-step trim effect.

Lay down all of the challenge coins on the smaller piece of wood, or whichever you’ve determined as your top piece. When you’re happy with the layout, circle the coins with a pencil.

Then, cut out the holes.

Next, glue the other piece of wood to the bottom of the piece with holes in it.

Stain or paint and sand the wood as desired.

When you’re finished, place your challenge coins in the slots.

If you want to make it even fancier, you can place a piece of glass on top of it, or frame the wooden pallets.

Then, you can hang it on the wall or mantle as desired. Or, put it in your man cave.

Creating Your Own Challenge Coin Holders

Remember, there are hundreds of ways you can choose to display your challenge coins. They often represent remarkable achievement, and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. Whether you choose to DIY challenge coin holders or purchase one, remember to display them with the utmost pride.

For more fun DIYs, visit the DIY section of our site.