Where the Navy Begins: One Challenge Coin Design that reflects, Countless Futures.
- Admin
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Oh man, where do we even begin with this one? When the Navy Recruiting Command asked us to design a coin for their Commander, we didn’t just reach for the sketchpad—we straight-up stood at attention. This wasn’t just any coin. This was the coin. The kind of project that makes you sit up a little straighter in your swivel chair because you’re about to design for a Rear Admiral with a mission that literally shapes the future of the Navy. No pressure, right?
Okay listen—this one nearly took us out. Not the concept. Not the client (we LOVE the Navy Recruiting Command—seriously, would bake them cookies). No, it was the border. THE. BORDER. That braided rope edge? Turns out making it look “crisply powerful” and not “weirdly pasta-like” is harder than it sounds. Somewhere around draft fourteen (fifteen??), we found ourselves weeping gently over emboss settings and whispering “Forged by the Sea” like it was a prayer. And honestly? It kind of was.
Because that phrase? It’s not just poetic. It’s everything. It’s the storm, the steel, the salt, and the story of how sailors become warriors. So yeah—we took that ethos and ran with it, full steam ahead. We anchored the design in that transformation, made it pulse with purpose, and let it remind anyone holding it that they are part of something mighty. Something forged—not manufactured, not mass-produced—forged.
Now, let’s talk recruitment for a second. It is NOT the background act. It’s the origin story. Every single sailor starts with a recruiter who believed in their potential, who made the call, who saw something they might not have seen in themselves yet. So we built that into the coin too. It had to reflect not just leadership—but the kind of leadership that changes lives. The kind that shapes fleets and fuels futures.
And yes—THE FLAG. THE. OFFICER. FLAG. We knew we needed that Rear Admiral’s seagoing flag—deep blue, gold-trimmed, two stars stacked like it’s ready for command. That detail had to be perfect. Because let’s be honest: if there’s anyone who notices whether that flag has the right number of stars in the right shade of blue… it’s someone in the Navy. And if we got it wrong? We’d never live it down. Ever.
This coin had to shout “NAVY PRIDE” from across the room—but also whisper “respect the rank” with quiet precision. And in the middle of all that? We were still navigating font battles, enamel fill debates, and someone (not naming names) accidentally deleted the eagle. Twice. 🫠
But that’s what we do. We design for the people who find the next generation of sailors. We give it everything. Even if it means crying about gold-on-white enamel proofs or obsessing over rope textures until our eyeballs blur. Because when that final coin lands in someone’s hand—shiny, strong, exactly what it needed to be? That’s the good stuff. That’s why we’re here.
Navy Recruiting Commander Challenge Coin Design
Oh, THIS ONE. The Navy Recruiting Commander challenge coin design practically commanded us to stand at attention the moment we saw the first draft—yes, we saluted our own Illustrator file. No regrets. Because when you’re designing a coin that represents the person in charge of shaping the future of America’s Navy, you don’t just sketch—you show up with reverence, caffeine, and three backup Pantone charts.
Let’s start with the front (and YES, we obsessed over that rope-textured gold border—bless the detail goblins on our team). The clean white center makes way for the real star—well, two stars, actually: the Rear Admiral’s seagoing flag. That dark blue, double-star flag had to be flawless. And not just because sailors would notice if we got it wrong (they would). It’s because that flag means something. It represents leadership, command, earned respect. So we surrounded it with a crisp navy ring that reads “Commander” and “Navy Recruiting Command,” plus two bright stars that quietly shout: this role matters.
Flip it over, and you’ll hit the goosebumps part. “Forged by the Sea” isn’t just a slogan—it’s the whole ethos. That outer ring of raised gold lettering? We stared at it like it might answer our design prayers. Inside, the eagle holds fast—blue, proud, and flanked by the tools of the trade (anchor in one talon, sword in the other). And those radiant gold lines behind it? Sunbeams? Strength rays? We’ll let you decide. All we know is, they make you want to say “aye, aye” and go do something brave.
This coin is all heart, all honor, and honestly? It still makes us stand a little taller every time we see it.
Let’s be real—by the time this coin was done, we had saltwater in our souls and Illustrator crash trauma in our hearts. But that’s the magic of it, right? This wasn’t just about nailing colors or centering a flag (though yes, we triple-checked the two stars). It was about designing a coin that feels like the Navy Recruiting Command: steady, intentional, proud. The kind of coin that says “Welcome aboard, Sailor” with a wink and a salute.
So yeah, we lost sleep over that border. We debated eagle wingspan ratios. Someone cried (okay, it was probably Mary). But when that final proof hit the table—bold, gold, and worthy of the title “Commander”? We stood at attention again. Because some coins get handed out. This one gets remembered. And if even one future Admiral looks back at this coin and thinks, “Yep, that’s when it all started”? Then it was worth every single Pantone swatch panic attack.
Capturing History One Challenge Coin At A Time.
Contact us today to start creating your own piece of history.
