Friday, August 10, 2012

The Making of the Challenge Coin

The American Road to Victory Collector’s Edition includes a specially crafted challenge coin made in by Northwest Territorial Mint, the same facility that strikes the prestigious National Medal of Honor. Livingbattlefield’s coins follow a long tradition said to date back to the Great War.


Blanking the brass strip

Each coin begins as a solid sheet of metal, pressed and drawn until they reach the ideal weight to size ratio. The precise thickness of these strips is measured by a micrometer.








Ready to strike

These sheets are next run through a blanking machine that punches out blank discs of metal, which are then cleaned and polished. The blanks are then placed in a finishing machine to smooth any rough spots. They are hand-dried in preparation for striking.



A newly minted coin

Each coin is secured in the minting press and is struck with our unique design. The result is a deep relief that you can see and feel.










The antiquing process
The coins are then applied with an antiquing solution, giving them a classic, vintage finish.








One side of our challenge coin celebrates our partnership with the National Infantry Museum Foundation and bears both symbols. The other side displays images from each of the three films: a paratrooper from The Americans on D-Day, the Nijmegen Bridge from The Americans on Hell’s Highway, and an infantry soldier of The Big Red One, from The Americans in the Bulge.

Collector's Edition Challenge Coin

7 comments:

  1. That's a good looking coin.
    When will it be available?

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  2. Cool challenge coin.
    When will it be available to buy?

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  3. The coin was made to be a part of our collector's edition, but it can be bought separately. Please email rachael@livingbattlefield.org The price is $18.00 + shipping.

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  4. I had no idea that's how they were made. Very cool coins and process!

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  5. I have 2 of these beautiful coins and can't wait to challenge my friends in the upcoming Ardennes events.

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  6. Cool! These coins are looking fantastic. Thanks for the sharing.

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  7. One side of our challenge coin celebrates our partnership with the National Infantry Museum Foundation and bears both symbols.

    ReplyDelete