Veterans Day Challenge Coins and Pins: What Organizations Order and When

Order-by dates for November 11, 2026

Veterans Day falls on a Wednesday in 2026. It is a federal holiday, so the Postal Service does not deliver that day, and most workplace ceremonies happen on Tuesday the 10th or on the 11th itself. The national ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begins at 11:00 a.m. on the 11th, and many local events follow the same hour. Plan to have your order in your hands by Friday, November 6, so a late truck or a miscount does not become a problem you discover on the morning of the event.

The week between the quote and the approval is for artwork. You receive a quote within one hour, then a proof. Most delays in a Veterans Day order do not happen at the factory. They happen while a proof waits in someone's inbox for a signature, so decide who approves the design before you ask for the quote.

Past both dates? Put your event date in the quote form and we will tell you what is still possible.

Who orders, and what they order

Coin or pin?

Choose a coin when you know exactly who you are honoring. A challenge coin is passed from one hand to another, usually in a handshake, and that gesture comes straight from military tradition. It ends up on a desk or in a display case, not in a drawer. It costs more per piece, so it suits a known list of names. See sizes, finishes and edge options on the custom challenge coins page.

Choose a pin when you want the whole room to take part. A lapel pin is visible all day, costs less than half as much, and works when you cannot predict the headcount. Hard enamel gives the polished, jewelry-like surface that suits a formal ceremony. Soft enamel costs a little less and shows raised metal lines. Both can be plated in any of our metal finishes. Design ideas for the day are on our Veterans Day pins page, and unit and branch themes are on the military pins page.

Many organizations order both: coins for the veterans, pins for everyone who came to thank them.

What it costs

These are the published PinProsPlus prices per piece as of September 21, 2026. Artwork and shipping inside the USA are included.

Custom challenge coins

Custom lapel pins

Two numbers are worth a second look. Fifty 1 3/4" coins cost $468.50 and one hundred cost $596, so doubling the order adds $127.50. If you have 60 veterans on staff, order 100 and keep the rest for new hires and next year's guests. And 200 one-inch soft enamel pins cost $474, which is less than 100 coins of any size. Every size and quantity is on the full price list.

Design rules: what you can and cannot put on it

This is the part most buyers learn too late, after the artwork is finished.

• Official seals are off limits. The Department of Defense states that DOD and military service seals are protected by law and may not be used for non-official purposes.
• Branch emblems and names are trademarks. Each service runs its own Trademark Licensing Program Office, and its marks may not be used without a license agreement or written permission. The contacts for every branch are on the DOD Branding and Trademarks page.
• Veteran organization emblems need permission too. The American Legion, for example, has a formal process to request permission to use its emblem on merchandise. If your post belongs to a national organization, ask your national office before you send artwork.
• What needs no permission: the U.S. flag, stars and stripes, an eagle drawn for you, your own logo or city seal, the date, the event name, and wording such as "Thank you for your service."

If your design includes a protected mark, send the written permission together with your artwork and we will keep it with your order. If you would rather avoid the paperwork, our artists can build a design from the elements in the last bullet that reads clearly as a tribute without borrowing anyone's insignia.

How to present it

The object matters less than the thirty seconds around it. Have the most senior person in the room do the presenting. Read each name aloud. Hand the coin over in a handshake, which is how coins have always changed hands, or pin the lapel pin yourself and do not pass it across a table in a bag. If you are mailing to remote staff, individual packaging makes the difference between a gift and a parcel. Pin backings and packaging choices are listed on our pin extras page. For coins, tell us in the quote form how you plan to present them and we will include the packaging options in your quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much do 100 Veterans Day challenge coins cost?

At our published prices, 100 custom coins cost $550 at 1 1/2", $596 at 1 3/4" and $642 at 2". Artwork and shipping inside the USA are free.

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What is the minimum order?

The published price list starts at 50 pieces for challenge coins and 100 pieces for lapel pins.

What is the last day to order for Veterans Day 2026?

For delivery by Friday, November 6, approve final artwork by Friday, October 16 on the standard schedule of 15 business days or less, or by Friday, October 23 with the 10-day rush option.

Can we put a military branch emblem on our coin?

Seals, no. Branch emblems and names, only with a license or written permission from that service's Trademark Licensing Program Office. The flag, stars, your logo, dates and a message of thanks need no permission.

Is the artwork free?

Yes. Our design service is free, and your quote arrives within one hour. Send a finished file, a logo, or a sketch on a napkin.

Can we reorder the same coin next year?

Yes. Ask for a reorder and we quote it from your original artwork, so there is no design stage to repeat. Many posts and employers change only the year.

Start with a quote

Tell us the quantity, the size you have in mind and your event date. You will have a price within one hour and a proof to approve after that. Get a coin quote, or use the pin quote form if you are ordering pins.

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