Ambassador Coin of Barbados: A Challenge Coin of Heritage and Diplomacy

Seven Stars, One Salmon, and a Coin With Something to Say

Let’s just say this one had layers. Not the kind you peel back—more like the kind you stand in awe of. History. Heritage. Architecture. Diplomacy. And yes, one very determined salmon who demanded design revisions like a diva on a deadline.

When Ambassador Roger F. Nyhus’s name hit our inbox alongside the Barbados embassy challenge coin project, we sat up a little straighter. Not because it was a surprise—we’d been around enough diplomatic circles to know when something big was coming. But this project wasn’t your average seal-on-a-coin moment. This one had range.

We were about to design something that stretched from the shores of Barbados to the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. From grand colonial architecture to the intricate lines of Northwest Coast Indian art. From global diplomacy to deeply personal heritage. We weren’t just designing a challenge coin—we were designing a bridge. And we were so in.

Barbados Embassy Challenge Coin and Eastern Caribbean Diplomacy

Let’s talk about Barbados for a minute. It’s not just palm trees and postcard views (though yes, those too). This island’s been making waves on the world stage since 1966, standing tall as an independent nation with deep U.S. ties rooted in democracy, trade, and security. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown isn’t just a building—it’s the region’s diplomatic heartbeat, and the inspiration behind the Barbados Eastern Caribbean coin.

And those seven stars on the coin? They’re more than sparkle. They’re a nod to the Magnificent Seven—those jaw-dropping colonial-era mansions in Port of Spain, Trinidad, that carry the weight of history in every column and cornice. We saw them as symbols of elegance, legacy, and—let’s be real—some serious architectural swagger. But diplomacy doesn’t just live in embassies—it lives in people. And this ambassador brought a story that stretched far beyond island borders. This coin project didn’t stop at geography. It asked us to zoom out—to trace one man’s story from the Caribbean to the Pacific Northwest.

Chinook Nation Heritage on the Ambassador Coin Design

But then came the other half of the story. The side with deeper roots and quieter power. The Chinook Indian Nation—Ambassador Nyhus’s heritage—is all about resilience, connection to the land, and storytelling that predates embassies by centuries.

Salmon, in Chinook tradition, isn’t just food. It’s life. It’s legacy. It’s the pulse of a people who thrived along the Columbia River and passed down their stories not in books—but in art. Bold, stylized designs featuring salmon, ravens, orcas. We knew one thing instantly: if we didn’t get that fish right, we weren’t done.

The Salmon Saga (Aka: The Great Fin Debate)

Now, we pride ourselves on our design debates. We’ve argued over font spacing at 1:00 a.m., and once had a three-day stand-off over the shade of Air Force blue. But nothing—nothing—prepared us for the salmon showdown of this coin.

It started with someone dropping the phrase, “Should the salmon face east or west?” which somehow spiraled into a full-blown Slack channel called #fishfight. One designer swore it needed to swim upstream for symbolism. Another lobbied hard for a tail-flick that matched the curve of the coin’s edge. Someone photoshopped sunglasses on it “just to see.” At one point, we had five versions of the fish—each with a different eye shape—and a Post-it note that just said, “SALMON IS WATCHING.” We’d figure the rest out later—right down to the border colors, metal finishes, and a Spirit Face that had to get its moment. But eventually, the coin itself told us what it needed: a salmon bold enough to anchor the reverse side, stylized in black, red, and white, floating in a field of white for clarity, reverence, and contrast. Not just art—ancestry, in motion.

The Design: Where Two Worlds Meet

One side leans into diplomacy—clean lines, bold color, and unmistakable symbolism that says, “this is official, and it matters.” It’s the kind of side that carries weight, not just visually, but historically.

The other side? That’s where the story breathes. A tribute to heritage. Identity. Quiet strength. It's where ancestral roots meet modern representation—and somehow, it all fits inside the arc of one ring.

We balanced formality with soul. Structure with symbolism. This coin had to carry both—and it does. And while we could spell out every color choice and design flourish here… we’d rather show you.

Because once you see the full breakdown, you’ll know exactly why this one stuck with us.

This Coin? It’s Personal.

It’s not every day you get to make a coin that ties together seafaring traditions, diplomatic leadership, and architectural icons—but we’re not in this for the easy ones. We’re in it for the stories that deserve to be told in metal. The kind you can hold in your hand and feel the weight of history, heritage, and hope.

So yes, this coin has layers. Seven stars. One salmon. A bridge from Barbados to the Pacific Northwest. And a story we’ll be proud to tell every time we show it off.

Because this is what we do at Challenge Design: we turn legacies into metal—and somehow, still argue over the direction a fish should swim.

(We regret nothing.)

---

Eastern Caribbean Ambassador Roger F. Nyhus’s Challenge Coin Design

On the front, we kept it bold and balanced. A light blue center sets the stage—fresh, clean, Caribbean—and holds the raised Department of State seal right at the heart of it all. We added just enough color to the emblem to make it pop without overpowering. Around that? A thin white ring, sharp and formal, stamped with “United States of America Embassy.” That’s the handshake. The introduction. The quiet authority. Then comes the gold ring—warmer, more grounded—naming the region: “Eastern Caribbean, Bridgetown, Barbados.” It’s not just location—it’s reach. And wrapping it all up is a deep navy ring with seven raised gold stars that arch across the top, framing the phrase “The Magnificent Seven” at the bottom. That phrase doesn’t just refer to historic mansions—it’s a nod to legacy, to strength, to the architectural imprint of a region that knows how to stand tall.

At the center of the coin’s reverse, we placed a striking depiction of a Chinook salmon—rendered in the bold, flowing lines of Northwest Coast Indigenous art. Its shape is sleek, curved, and intentional, echoing the motion of a salmon swimming upstream. Every fin, scale, and arc is deliberate, giving the impression that this fish isn’t just engraved—it’s alive. Moving. Enduring.

But what makes this design truly unforgettable is the Spirit Face embedded at the heart of the salmon’s body.

It’s a stylized human-like face—eyes wide, framed by graceful crescents and ovoids—that carries deep cultural meaning in Chinook and Pacific Northwest art. On the coin, it quietly anchors the design with ancestral energy. It represents guidance, protection, and the soul of the salmon itself—turning the fish into something more: a spiritual bridge between tradition and legacy.

We chose a classic black, red, and white color scheme, with raised metal details and contrasting negative space, to make the salmon stand out. The bold black outlines give structure. The red adds warmth and reverence. And the white background lets the form breathe—offering clarity and weight to every line.

More than decoration, this salmon tells a story.

A story of resilience, heritage, and the journey of a people who’ve carried their culture forward against the current. For Ambassador Roger F. Nyhus—a proud member of the Chinook Indian Nation—it’s not just personal. It’s a tribute etched in metal. One that speaks not just to where you serve, but where you’re from—and who walks with you.

This ambassador coin may be small, but the design carries weight. It bridges diplomatic formality and personal storytelling. It honors Caribbean diplomacy while celebrating Native heritage. It’s the kind of piece that reminds us why we do what we do: to create something beautiful that holds meaning long after the meeting ends.

Because in the end, a challenge coin isn’t just about where someone works. It’s about who they are—and what they carry with them. A salmon, a seal, a set of stars. A legacy in motion. And if this challenge coin helps someone feel seen, honored, or just a little more connected to where they come from or where they serve—then yeah. We’d argue over fish fins again in a heartbeat.

Capturing History One Challenge Coin At A Time.

Contact us today to start creating your own piece of history.

Contact Us

Challenge Design Gallery

Challenge Design Logo