The HonestCoinsLI Blog

Challenge coins have a history that stretches back over a century — from the muddy trenches of World War I to the firehouses, squad cars, and deployment ceremonies of today. If you've ever held one in your hand, you know there's something different about them. They carry weight, not just physically, but in what they represent. Where It All Started The most popular origin story traces challenge coins to World War I. An American flying squadron received bronze medallions stampe

If you're looking for a challenge coin company that actually understands Long Island — the departments, the culture, the tradition — you've found it. Honest Coins LI was founded right here on Long Island in 2015 by a law enforcement officer who knew there had to be a better way to serve the local first responder community. Why Long Island Departments Choose Honest Coins LI We're not a national factory that happens to ship to New York. We're your neighbors. We've created coins

One of the most common questions we get is: "How much do custom challenge coins cost?" The honest answer is: it depends — but there should never be surprises. At Honest Coins LI, we built our entire pricing model around transparency, because that's exactly what was missing when we started this company in 2015. What Factors Drive Challenge Coin Pricing? Most coin companies quote a low base price, then add upgrade fees for size, thickness, 3D, extra colors, dual-sided detail, c

At Honest Coins LI, first responder coins aren't just a product we make — they're personal. Our company is built by law enforcement, firefighters, and veterans who carry these coins ourselves. We know what goes into a great police coin, a fire department commemorative, or an EMS unit coin because we've been on both sides of the handshake. This guide covers what to include in your design so your coins are meaningful, professional, and worth carrying for years. Police Departmen

Designing your first custom challenge coin can feel overwhelming — size, thickness, plating, enamel type, shape, and artwork all need decisions. But it doesn't have to be complicated. Here at Honest Coins LI, we've guided hundreds of police officers, firefighters, veterans, and corporate teams through the process. This guide walks you through every step. Step 1: Choose Your Size Challenge coins come in a range of sizes, typically from 1.5 inches to 3 inches in diameter. The m

Ask any K9 handler and they'll tell you: the bond between officer and dog is unlike anything else in law enforcement. These animals work harder than most people ever will. They track suspects through darkness, detect threats invisible to human senses, and walk into situations that even their handlers approach with caution. They don't get a badge or a salary. But they earn one. K9 unit challenge coins have become one of the most requested and most personal orders we fill at H

There's a drawer in thousands of homes across America filled with coins that most people would walk right past at a yard sale. Challenge coins — heavy, detailed, oddly satisfying to hold — that represent entire careers, units that no longer exist, and moments in time that the people who were there will never forget. To an outsider they're curios. To the people who carry them, they're archives. We're a team of veterans and first responders who've been collecting and making the

Memorial Day isn't a long weekend for most of us. If you've served, or if someone you love has served, the last Monday in May carries a different weight than it does for the rest of the country. It's the day set aside to remember the men and women who didn't come home — and to carry forward the obligation that comes with having been one of the ones who did. Challenge coins have always had a complicated, beautiful relationship with memory. They're carried close. They're pulled

A retirement coin is one of the most personal things you can give someone who's spent a career in service. It's not a plaque that goes on the wall. It's not a certificate that ends up in a drawer. It's something they'll carry in a pocket, pull out at a VFW bar, set on the nightstand, and eventually show to grandchildren while trying to explain what the job was like. Retirement coins are probably our most emotionally meaningful orders. We've made them for officers with 35-year

Size is one of the first questions people ask when ordering a custom challenge coin — and it's one of the most underrated decisions in the whole process. Get the size right and the coin feels authoritative in the hand. Get it wrong and even a beautiful design can feel like it's missing something. We've been making coins since 2015, and we've fielded this question from police departments, fire companies, military units, and EMS agencies across the country. Here's everything yo

One of the most common things we hear from first-time buyers is some version of: "I didn't know it was this easy." The process of ordering custom challenge coins has a reputation for being complicated — lots of back-and-forth, confusing pricing, endless decisions. We've worked hard to make it the opposite of that. Here's exactly what happens when you order from Honest Coins LI, from the moment you reach out to the day your coins arrive. Five steps. No mysteries. Step 1: Reque

Walk into any firehouse break room, open the center console of any patrol car, or look on the nightstand of any veteran you know — there's a good chance you'll find a challenge coin somewhere in reach. They're everywhere in first responder and military culture. But not all challenge coins are the same, and if you're ordering for the first time, knowing the difference can save you time, money, and disappointment. We've been making coins for first responders, law enforcement, m

Most people ordering their first custom coin ask the same question: what exactly goes on it? And honestly, that's the right question to start with. A challenge coin isn't just a piece of metal. It's a record. It's proof that you were there, that you served, that your unit existed and it mattered. Every element you put on it should earn its place. We've been making coins for law enforcement, fire, EMS, and military units since 2015. We're first responders ourselves, so we don'

Nobody starts a challenge coin company to get rich. If you've spent any time in law enforcement, fire, EMS, or the military, you already know that. The people in those jobs understand something about the gap between what the work costs and what it pays. You do it anyway. That's the whole point. We started Honest Coins LI in 2015 because we were first responders and veterans who kept running into the same problem: the companies making challenge coins for our community didn't r

Every October 28th, the country pauses to recognize the men and women who run toward the things everyone else runs away from. National First Responders Day. It's a date that means something different depending on whether you've worn the uniform or not. If you have, you probably didn't need a calendar entry to think about your people. You carry them with you year-round. We're a team of active and former first responders and veterans based on Long Island, NY. October 28th isn't

Firefighters put everything on the line every single shift. At Honest Coins LI — a family-run, veteran and first-responder-owned company based on Long Island, NY — we believe the coins carried by the fire service should be made by people who understand exactly what that service means. We've been creating custom firefighter challenge coins since 2015, and we're proud to serve fire companies, departments, and fire chiefs across the country. Why Fire Companies Trust Honest Coins

The challenge coin tradition was born in the military, and at Honest Coins LI, we carry that tradition forward with the pride and respect it deserves. Our company is veteran-owned and operated — built by service members, for service members. We've been creating custom military challenge coins for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force units since 2015. Why Veterans and Military Units Choose Honest Coins LI Veteran-Owned & Operated — We are veterans.

Challenge coins have long been a symbol of belonging, solidarity, and shared purpose. At Honest Coins LI — a veteran and first-responder-owned company based in Long Island, NY — we help unions, fraternal organizations, associations, and clubs create custom coins that represent their pride and identity. Whether you're a local IAFF chapter, a PBA, a Teamsters local, or a veterans organization, we've got you covered. Why Organizations Choose Honest Coins LI Veteran & First Respo

EMS professionals run toward emergencies when everyone else is running away. At Honest Coins LI — a veteran and first-responder-owned company based on Long Island, NY — we have deep respect for every EMT and paramedic who answers the call. We've been creating custom EMS challenge coins and paramedic coins since 2015, and we understand the pride and sacrifice that goes into every shift. Why EMS Agencies Choose Honest Coins LI First Responder Owned — We are active emergency ser

At Honest Coins LI, we know what it means to serve. Our team is made up entirely of active first responders, law enforcement officers, and veterans — and we've been crafting custom police challenge coins since 2015. When you order from us, you're not ordering from a faceless factory. You're ordering from the brotherhood. Why Police Departments Choose Honest Coins LI Veteran & First Responder Owned — We are one of you. We understand the culture, the symbolism, and the pride be