Custom challenge coins usually cost $4.50 to $5.50 per coin for a standard 2-inch hard-enamel coin, plus a one-time mold fee of $140 to $200. The more you order, the lower the per-coin price, and at higher quantities the mold fee is waived entirely. For a typical police academy class of 100 to 250 coins, that lands between roughly $700 and $1,400 all in.
Here is the real breakdown: what you will actually pay, what moves the price, and the fees to watch for.
What a custom challenge coin actually costs
Quantity is the biggest factor, then size, finish, and design complexity. Here are real 2026 tiers for a standard 2-inch hard-enamel coin:
| Quantity | Per coin | Mold fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $5.50 | $140 | $690 |
| 200 | $5.25 | $140 | $1,190 |
| 250 | $5.10 | $140 | $1,415 |
| 300 | $5.00 | Waived | $1,500 |
| 500 | $4.75 | Waived | $2,375 |
| 1,000 | $4.50 | Waived | $4,500 |
In-service pricing, 2026. Reorders never pay a mold fee.
Per-coin price drops about 5% to 18% as you scale from 100 to 1,000, and once you reach 300 coins the mold fee disappears.
What drives the price
- Quantity. The single biggest lever. 100 coins runs about $5.50 each; 1,000 drops to about $4.50.
- Size. A standard coin is 2 inches. Larger pieces (2.5 inches and up) cost more.
- Finish. Hard enamel (smooth, jewelry-grade) is the standard. 3D relief and hybrid designs add dimension and carry a higher mold fee (about $200 vs $140).
- Design complexity. Cutouts, dual plating, edge text, and sequential numbering each add to the price.
- The mold (die) fee. A one-time tooling charge, typically $100 to $300 across the industry.
The mold fee, and how to avoid paying it twice
Every new coin design needs a mold, the tooling that strikes it. That is a one-time fee, usually $140 for a standard design and $200 for 3D.
- It is often waived at higher quantities. At In-service the mold fee disappears at 300 coins and up.
- Reorders should never pay it again. Once your design is on file, reordering the same coin is $0 mold fee. Ask any vendor directly, because some quietly re-charge it.
What a police academy class coin costs
For the most common academy order, 100 to 250 coins (one per graduate plus extras for staff and trades), you are typically looking at $690 to $1,415 all in for a standard 2-inch hard-enamel coin. Smaller classes under 100 are usually priced by quote.
Two ways classes manage the cost:
- Fundraise it. Sell the coins, or a limited "first class" edition, to alumni, families, and supporters. A $20 coin on a roughly $5 cost can fund the whole order and then some.
- Order extras up front. You will want spares for trades and replacements later, and reorders carry no mold fee.
How In-service prices it
We publish real per-coin tiers instead of hiding them behind a quote. Every order includes a digital proof before production, there are no minimums (orders under 100 are quoted), and graduating classes get a keepsake package on us.
On reorders we go a step further. The hard part of a custom coin is the first run: the design, the proofs, the tooling. Once that is done, a reorder genuinely costs less to make, so we pass it straight through. Reorders skip the mold fee and come at 10% off the per-coin price. It is not a markdown on the coins, it is simply what they cost to make the second time.
See the full tier breakdown, or start your order.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order?
No. Standard tiers start at 100 coins, and orders under 100 are priced by quote.
Do I pay the mold fee again on a reorder?
No. Your design stays on file, so reorders skip the mold fee and come at 10% off the per-coin price. The first run covers the design and tooling, so the second run genuinely costs less to make, and we pass that on.
What is the easiest way to lower the per-coin cost?
Order more. The per-coin price drops about 18% from 100 to 1,000 coins, and the mold fee is waived at 300 and up.
Hard enamel or 3D?
Hard enamel is the smooth, jewelry-grade standard. 3D relief adds raised dimension and a slightly higher mold fee (about $200).
