Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-06-12 Origin: Site
Choosing the right color for a custom medal might seem simple—until it isn't. With dozens of plating and enamel options available, how do you know which color matches your event's values, your audience's expectations, and your brand's prestige?
Colors don't just make your medals beautiful—they carry meaning, drive emotional impact, and even influence how challenge coin recipients remember your event. Whether you're designing challenge coin awards for military units, graduation ceremonies, sports events, or commemorative giveaways, the plating color plays a crucial role in perception.
In this post, you'll learn the key differences among various plating and enamel color options in custom medals. We'll explore what they symbolize, when to use them, and how to ensure they elevate your challenge coin designs to their full potential.
Gold and brass plating are among the most popular finishes for challenge coin and medal creation. They look similar from afar—but up close, the differences are substantial.
| Attribute | Shiny Gold | Shiny Brass |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Bright yellow (wheat tone) | Light green/yellow bronze |
| Symbolism | Honor, prestige, success | Uniqueness, distinction |
| Best For | 1st-place medals, awards | Graduation medals, custom coins |
| Finish | Glossy, luminous | Subdued, earthy |
Shiny gold plating delivers brilliance, catching light and attention instantly. It's commonly used in challenge coin designs where authority and honor must be projected.
In contrast, shiny brass evokes a vintage, mossy aesthetic. It's ideal for clients seeking uniqueness without overpowering gleam. Many schools and organizations choose shiny brass for graduation or milestone coins.
If your event calls for a cooler, sharper, or more mysterious look, the silver-to-black spectrum offers unique value.
Think stainless steel. Shiny silver has that clean, industrial aesthetic. It works perfectly for 2nd place medals or any challenge coin where elegance meets neutrality.
This is where things get dramatic. Black nickel is dark, reflective, and subtly shiny. Under bright light, it can appear silvery. Ideal for soft enamel challenge coin projects that require a sleek, modern edge.
Flat, bold, and unapologetically matte. Dye black lacks metallic reflection but makes up for it with punchy visual clarity. It's often used in artistic or unconventional designs—think dye black with pink or purple infill.
| Feature | Shiny Silver | Shiny Black Nickel | Dye Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective? | Yes | Yes (low-level) | No |
| Finish Type | Metallic | Metallic | Pigmented (dyed) |
| Durability | High | Medium-High | Medium |
| Appeal | Modern | Trendy/Luxurious | Edgy/Minimalist |
Want your challenge coin to feel exclusive and emotional? Consider rose gold or copper.
Soft, subtle, and graceful—rose gold offers elegance with a contemporary twist. It adds a feminine touch and is often chosen for community or wellness-oriented coins.
On the deeper side of the warm color scale, shiny copper channels energy and boldness. Its reddish-orange tone is perfect for coins commemorating achievements in physically demanding or high-intensity fields.
Copper is frequently selected for fire department challenge coins, team awards, and motivational programs.
Antique gold, brass, and silver have a matte, aged look that adds storytelling power to any medal.
| Antique Finish | Base Color | Character | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antique Gold | Muted yellow | Classic, royal | Commemorative coins, history events |
| Antique Brass | Green-brown | Earthy, vintage | Memorial medals, academic awards |
| Antique Silver | Dull steel | Stoic, neutral | Traditional ceremonies, retirements |
Unlike shiny platings, antique finishes reduce glare and offer tactile depth. They're frequently used on 3D challenge coin designs to highlight engraving or sculpted features.
The psychology of color plays a vital role in how your medal or challenge coin is perceived. Below is a breakdown of what common plating colors communicate.
| Color | Represents | Best Used In |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Achievement, excellence | 1st place awards, leadership tokens |
| Silver | Balance, intellect | 2nd place, innovation challenges |
| Bronze | Tenacity, respect | 3rd place, participation awards |
| Black Nickel | Sophistication, mystery | Elite unit challenge coins |
| Rose Gold | Grace, community, care | Charity medals, wellness awards |
| Copper | Passion, energy, courage | Physical challenges, fire/military coins |
| Brass | Heritage, subtle elegance | Academic or cultural commemoratives |
This symbolism is especially important in B2B contexts where branding and perception matter. For example, a corporate recognition challenge coin in gold plating signals leadership. Meanwhile, a rose gold finish suggests team spirit and compassion.
Choosing the right plating is about aligning your coin's purpose with its appearance. Let's break it down:
Recommended Plating: Gold (1st), Silver (2nd), Bronze (3rd)
Enamel Tip: Use vibrant soft enamel fill for energy.
Recommended Plating: Black Nickel, Antique Gold, Shiny Gold
Detail Advice: Opt for 3D sculpting with antique finishes for authority and depth.
Recommended Plating: Shiny Brass, Shiny Silver, Antique Brass
Extra Detail: Combine two-tone plating for academic logos.
Recommended Plating: Rose Gold, Dye Black, Copper
Symbol Tip: Match plating with cause—e.g., green for environmental campaigns.
Many clients confuse similar finishes like shiny gold and shiny brass or black nickel and dye black. Here's a quick checklist to help:
Observe the Side Edge: Reflective edges indicate metal plating.
Check in Natural Light: Sunlight reveals tone warmth or coolness.
Use a Color Comparison Card: Match medals to color-coded charts.
Feel the Texture: Dyed finishes tend to feel smoother than metallics.
Request Samples: The most reliable option before mass production.
Use color preview tools like Adobe Color or Coolors.
Match font color with plating (e.g., gold font on dark medals).
Avoid color clutter: pick one standout plating and complement with minimal enamel fills.
Test for durability: dye blacks can fade; hard enamel is more resilient.
Not all colors play well with all metals. Some pigments bubble or peel on certain surfaces.
| Enamel Color | Ideal Plating Match |
|---|---|
| Blue | Shiny Silver, Black Nickel |
| Red | Gold, Copper |
| White | Brass, Antique Silver |
| Pink | Rose Gold, Dye Black |
| Green | Silver, Antique Brass |
If your design uses vibrant enamel, talk to your supplier about compatibility with your selected plating.
Choosing the right plating color for your challenge coin is more than a design decision—it's a strategic choice that reflects your event, brand, and audience. Whether you opt for the boldness of copper, the luxury of gold, or the softness of rose tones, understanding each color's impact is essential.
Zhongshan Custom Crafts Co., Ltd. offers expert guidance and over a dozen plating options to make your challenge coin stand out—crafted with precision, clarity, and craftsmanship that lasts.
A: Start with the event theme. Then, match the color's emotional tone to the message you want to convey.
A: Yes. We recommend ordering a sample to ensure color accuracy and satisfaction before mass production.
A: Two-tone plating is available and allows for creative combinations like gold and silver in one design.
A: Absolutely. Our service offers flexible options, including no minimum quantities on custom challenge coin orders.
A: Yes, our team provides free design consultations to help you choose the perfect plating and color scheme.
