Navy SEALS Challenge Coins

Renae
Oct 9
5 min read

OH, WE’RE IN THE DEEP END NOW—LITERALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

Designing for the Navy SEALs is like trying to sketch lightning—blindfolded, underwater, heart pounding at 200 BPM. Because you know instantly: this isn’t another project. This is the project. These are the elite of the elite. The warriors who answer impossible calls, vanish into darkness, and somehow return with the mission complete and the enemy stunned. (Meanwhile, we can barely make it through a Monday without a meltdown over font weights.)

And here’s the thing—we feel the weight of that legacy before we ever open Illustrator. You say “SEALs,” and the room changes. The energy shifts. There’s a pause. Because this isn’t just military. It’s mythic. Sea, Air, Land—three words that define the SEAL name, but also barely scratch the surface of who they are. Counterterrorism, hostage rescues, direct action, intel so classified even our research tabs won’t open. They train harder, go farther, and push beyond what most people think is humanly possible.

Let’s talk about BUD/S for a second. Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, a.k.a. the gauntlet of all gauntlets. The crucible. The weed-out-the-weak phase. The reason only a tiny sliver of those who start ever finish. And those who do? They earn more than a trident. They earn a bond. A brotherhood. A lifetime of carrying each other through hell and back—sometimes literally.

THE INSIGNIA THAT SAYS IT ALL

And the SEAL insignia? CHILLS. That eagle with the wings outstretched in eternal vigilance, clutching a Navy anchor, a trident, and a flintlock-style pistol—like it’s ready to drop into the ocean or a firefight at a moment’s notice. Every line of that emblem screams purpose. Precision. Lethality. And yet—it’s also about unity. Shared ethos. The quiet promise: no one gets left behind.

That insignia is more than metal—it’s a map of what the SEALs are. And what it represents is even bigger: not one team, but a global force

NOT ONE TEAM — A GLOBAL FORCE

But even inside that unity, there’s a spectrum of specialization. SEAL Team 6 (yes, THAT one) gets the headlines, but each team within Naval Special Warfare Command brings its own brand of brilliance. Some handle maritime recon. Others master special reconnaissance. Each one trained to move in silence and strike with intention. It's a structure built for chaos—but grounded in the kind of discipline and excellence that gives us chills just trying to design for it.

So yeah. We’re pacing. We’re overwhelmed (in the best way). We’re checking every detail twice and emotionally preparing ourselves to do justice to the most legendary warriors walking the planet. Because when the mission is this extraordinary?

The design has to rise to meet it.

Navy SEAL Challenge Coin Collection

When we design a Navy SEAL challenge coin, we feel it in our bones—this is elite upon elite. These coins had to hold weight, not just metal. We played with both silver and gold, depending on which would bring the trident to life. On the “logo side,” you get the punch: black enamel deep enough to feel like the abyss, rope edging sharp enough to catch the light, and stars marching around the border like a quiet formation. That raised trident emblem? Oh, we polished it until it gleamed like it was reporting for duty. It’s serious. It’s tradition. It’s everything that makes you sit a little straighter just holding it.

Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) Challenge Coin

Navy SEALs' Naval Special Warfare Development Group

Then there’s the coin for Naval Special Warfare Development Group—the kind of unit people only whisper about. We went bold: trident over six stars, floating against the flag, blue backdrop grounding it all. The lettering curves proudly across the top like a banner at sea: “Naval Special Warfare Development Group.” This is the coin that doesn’t just nod to prestige—it shouts it. Every detail had to radiate precision and power, because this is the kind of coin you hand someone who has carried out missions most of us will only read about in redacted footnotes.

Navy SEALs Delivery Vehicle Team 1 Challenge Coin

But not every SEAL coin has to be deadly serious—and honestly, we loved that. Enter the Delivery Vehicle Team 1 coin: a brown seal, sailor cap tilted just so, chomping a fish while surfing a submarine like it’s no big deal. YES, we made him look smug. YES, we laughed at ourselves. But this was the right move—because even the most serious units know how to carry their identity with pride and humor. Set against a blue globe, outlined in gold rope, it’s a coin that winks at you while still packing that operational punch. Playful, but not frivolous. It’s the kind of coin that makes people grin when they see it—and that’s its own form of respect.

Navy SEAL Team V Challenge Coin

Now let’s talk SEAL Team V. Imagine the trident sitting over a Roman numeral so bold it practically glows: a deep purple “V” carved against a stark white backdrop. Purple, regal and rare, was no accident—it carries the gravitas of warriors who know exactly where they stand in history. We wrapped it in a border of gold stars on blue, each one practically humming with discipline. Black letters with gold trim spell out “SEAL Team” like an unshakable roll call. It’s clean, it’s commanding, and it’s designed to be held with two hands and a little awe.

Navy SEAL Team 3 Challenge Coin

SEAL Team Three’s coin? Sleek. Purposeful. Every line pulling its weight. The black field sets the stage like a blackout curtain, and then—bam—the trident explodes in raised gold, stars circling it like a hard-earned orbit. The rope border is thick and grounding, like steel cable pulled taut. Around the edge, “SEAL Team Three” isn’t whispered—it’s carved, it’s declared, it’s loud enough to feel in your hands. This coin carries the kind of flourish that comes from clarity: nothing extra, nothing wasted. Authority distilled into design.

Navy SEAL Team 7 Challenge Coin

And then there’s SEAL Team 7—where we went geometric, almost architectural. A gold trident laid over a red “7,” all framed in a white delta triangle. Seven stars crown the tip like a constellation, reminding you this isn’t just a number—it’s a brotherhood. We ringed it with a blue field and then lit the outer edge with a fiery red border, gold stars twinkling like medals pinned to a uniform. This coin feels like motion, like readiness, like something about to launch. You can almost hear it breathe.

From tridents to submarines to numerals that practically vibrate off enamel, each Navy SEAL challenge coin is more than design—it’s memory, pride, and proof. Proof that you stood among the elite. Proof that you carried the weight.

For us, designing them is its own honor. For you? It’s a chance to capture your own legacy in metal. Call us—we’ll help you make something just as legendary. No shortcuts. No compromises. Just a coin worthy of the story it tells.