The Art of Showing Up: Presidential Challenge Coins from NATO Trips

Renae
Jun 25
9 min read

Updated: Jun 27

From Brussels to Madrid to D.C., these coins don’t just mark where the President traveled—they mark why it mattered. We don’t just sketch and stamp metal. We preserve moments. We honor alliances. And with every coin, we ask ourselves the same thing: How do we turn diplomacy into something you can hold in your hand? Before we dive into the foil and flourishes, let’s talk about NATO—and why this tradition of presidential travel coins means more than meets the eye.

Before we dive into the glittery layers of gold foil and flag detail, let’s back up and talk about why these coins even exist—because spoiler alert: they’re not just shiny keepsakes. They’re moments. Markers. Tiny, tangible reminders that something huge happened—and someone trusted us to tell that story in metal.

So let’s say you’ve never heard of NATO. Picture the world’s most powerful democracies locking arms like a middle school friendship pact—“If anyone messes with you, they mess with me.” That’s NATO: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It’s been the backbone of collective defense since 1949, and each year, one member country gets the honor of hosting a summit. It’s a big deal. Like, fly-the-president-out kind of big. One year it’s Brussels, next it’s Madrid, and each one brings its own flavor of diplomacy, defense, and strategic elbow-rubbing.

And what about “OTAN”? Not a typo. Just NATO en français—Organisation du Traité de l’Atlantique Nord. Because in a world of global partnerships, language matters. You’ll find both names stamped on official insignia, plaques, and—yes—our coins. A little bilingual flair to remind us this alliance isn’t about one voice. It’s about many, moving in sync.

When the President of the United States shows up to a NATO summit, it’s not for the photo op. It’s a message—bold, quiet, and clear: America still shows up. These gatherings carry the weight of legacy, trust, and future strategy, all packed into a 48-hour swirl of handshakes and headlines. And when the plane takes off again? That’s where we come in. That dual-language detail isn’t just a nod to formality—it’s proof of the unity this alliance stands for. And when the President of the United States shows up to one of these summits?

Presidential travel challenge coins aren’t mass produced. They’re crafted, passed from hand to hand, and tucked into pockets during moments that matter. We design them not to impress—but to remember. To honor. To anchor a conversation in something that lasts long after the stage is cleared. You weren’t in the room? This coin says you were part of the story anyway. These coins don’t just commemorate—they communicate. And the language? It’s all in the details.

And every detail counts. The year etched into the rim. The ring of stars. The host country’s flag, the Prime Minister’s name, the summit dates—even the font—all chosen for a reason. Because these aren’t just places on a map. They’re chapters in a shared history. A summit without the host country reflected in the design? It’d be missing its soul.

So yes, we fuss over every symbol. We make sure the leader is honored. The location is stamped. The story is told. Because when you hold one of these coins—really hold it—you’re holding a moment the world watched. And that? That’s why we design.

Each year brings a new chapter, and with it, a new coin. Here's how we translated 75 years of unity into silver and symbolism for the 2024 Summit in Washington, D.C.

2024 NATO Challenge Coin

Washington DC

This one carried history before we even touched the sketchpad. The 2024 NATO Summit wasn’t just another diplomatic check-in—it marked 75 years of partnership, defense, and global steadiness. And the fact that it was held in Washington, D.C.? That made it personal. When we set out to design this coin, we weren’t just trying to capture an event. We were holding a milestone in our hands, trying to turn it into metal that could speak across generations.

The coin is a clean silver round, edged with a dotted border that nods to classic tradition but still feels fresh. The face is divided into three deliberate sections: the top left carries the NATO symbol, proud and steady. Below it, in rich black, the words NATO and OTAN—reminding us this alliance speaks more than one language. But the right side? That’s where the emotion lives. A bold light blue “75” rises over a navy backdrop, flanked by D.C. landmarks: the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the White House. They stand like sentinels over the text: “Washington D.C. Summit • Sommet.” This wasn’t just a meeting—it was a celebration of unity, hosted by the nation that helped start it all. And for those who didn’t get this coin in hand? We get it. You wish you had. Because it doesn’t just mark a moment—it honors 75 years of showing up for each other.

2023 NATO Challenge Coin Flag

Vilnius, Lithuania

2023 NATO OTAN Challenge Coin Flag — NATO OTAN Challenge Coin Flag

The 2023 NATO summit was held in Vilnius, the Capital of Lithuania.

The event was held at LITEXPO, or Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre, the largest exhibition centre in the Baltic states. "This, unequivocally, was the most important meeting of the summer 2023. Due to a plethora of international issues, politics, and global security, this year’s event became the epicenter and confluence of significant issues requiring Allied Leaders to take definitive action. These decisions will have impacts for years to come." -NATO

At this summit , it was reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO.

2022 NATO Challenge Coin

Madrid Spain

We’ve designed a lot of coins for a lot of moments—but this one? This one felt different. The 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid wasn’t just another diplomatic gathering—it was a line in the sand. And when we sat down to design the challenge coin for the U.S. President’s trip, we knew it had to carry more than polish and protocol. It needed to mean something—to the diplomats who stood shoulder to shoulder, and to the people watching from afar, quietly wishing they could’ve been in the room where unity showed up loud and clear.

What makes this coin special isn’t just the shine—it’s the symbolism we snuck into every curve. The red plaque, crowned and trimmed in gold, anchors the heart of Spain’s heritage. That black square? Stark and steady—NATO OTAN standing firm in both languages, just like the alliance itself. And the National Library of Spain etched in the center? That’s where it gets emotional. We chose it not just for its beauty, but for what it represents: wisdom. Legacy. Stories worth preserving. If you’re holding this coin, you’re holding more than a souvenir. You’re holding a chapter in modern history. And if you’re not? We designed it so you’d wish you were.

2021 NATO Challenge Coin Oval

Brussels Belgium

This one had us in full goosebump mode before we even opened the first proof. The NATO Summit Brussels 2021 coin wasn’t just another international trip piece—it was a backstage pass to one of the most consequential global gatherings in modern history. And you can feel it in the design. Oval, antique silver finish, wrapped in the red, yellow, and black of the Belgian flag like a diplomatic ribbon. We don’t throw around the word “regal” lightly—but this one? Yeah. She’s regal.

Front and center, we anchored the NATO compass rose—sharp, polished, unwavering—set against a two-tone sky that shifts from day to dusk. Because summit days? They start early and run long. The words JUNE 2021 are stamped boldly in silver, because let’s be real—this wasn’t just a date, it was a moment. At the bottom, that gold-detailed architectural linework? That’s NATO Headquarters, drawn with such precision we swear you can see the reflections in the windows. (We tried. We zoomed in.)

The silver inner ring wraps it all up with stars and title: NATO Summit – Brussels, Belgium. It’s formal. It’s crisp. It’s the kind of coin that probably sat in a mahogany box next to a diplomatic passport. And yeah, we added shine. Because if this coin traveled in a presidential motorcade—or maybe a G7 motor pool—we wanted it to look the part.

And if you’re wondering what makes this coin different? It’s this: not everyone gets to stand in those rooms. To shape alliances. To hold the line between diplomacy and defense. But if you’re holding this? You weren’t just on the manifest. You were part of the mission. And if you’re not? Well… the motorcade probably didn’t stop for you

2019 NATO Challenge Coin Dog Tag

London England

Designing the 2019 NATO London challenge coin was a momentous opportunity for our team—one that called for a design as dignified and unified as the alliance it commemorated. Tasked with honoring the 70th anniversary of NATO during a historic U.S. presidential visit to London, we crafted a silver dog tag-shaped coin that blends bold symbolism with refined detail. From the outset, we knew the coin had to capture not only the weight of global diplomacy but the celebratory spirit of allied cooperation.

The coin’s front face is framed by a vivid blue outer border with the year “2019” and raised silver lettering, setting the tone for a stately yet dynamic design. A white decorative inner border adds contrast and elegance, drawing the eye inward to the silver center. At the top, “NATO London, England” appears in sleek black text with a silver outline—a nod to both place and purpose. Dominating the center is a bold number “70,” with half of the zero styled in the Union Jack, the British flag, representing the host nation and NATO’s transatlantic roots. Just beneath it, a vivid red banner stretches across the coin, with the word “Anniversary” raised in polished silver, underscoring the occasion with proud emphasis. Anchoring the base is the NATO flag, depicted in its iconic dark blue field with a pale blue circle and white compass rose—an enduring symbol of collective security and strategic direction.

The reverse side features the traditional 2019 presidential travel design, reinforcing the diplomatic mission and marking the coin’s place within the larger continuum of U.S. presidential journeys abroad. Together, both sides of the coin form a complete narrative—one of unity, strength, and shared legacy. This piece isn’t just a commemorative token—it’s a silver-etched symbol of transatlantic resolve, designed to stand the test of time.

2018 NATO Challenge Coin

Brussels Belgium

This one stopped us mid-design. A traditional round with heavyweight presence, the 2018 NATO Summit coin practically radiates diplomacy under pressure. Framed in bold gold with a deep navy enamel ring, this coin holds twenty-nine raised stars around the edge—each one a nod to the alliance it honors. Along the top: NATO Summit. Along the bottom: Brussels, Belgium. The place where decisions were made, where unity was tested, and where history showed up in real time.

But the magic? It’s right in the center. A bold vertical tricolor—red, yellow, blue—lays the backdrop with fierce contrast. It's not just eye-catching—it’s intentional, echoing Belgium’s national colors while anchoring the NATO and OTAN flag in the center like a seal of shared values. And beneath it all, etched in high-relief gold, is the unmistakable architecture of NATO’s new headquarters. Angular, powerful, and precise—it’s not just a building. It’s a fortress of diplomacy.

If you're holding this coin, you're holding more than a keepsake. You're holding a symbol of alignment in an increasingly complex world. And if you're not? Trust us—you’ll wish you had been there. Because coins like this don’t just mark a summit. They carry the weight of the world, sealed in gold.

2017 NATO Challenge Coin

Belgium

We’ve said it before—some coins carry weight you can feel. This one? It carried the entire transatlantic alliance in two inches of metal. When President Donald J. Trump made his first trip to a NATO Summit in May 2017, we knew the moment wasn’t just diplomatic—it was historic. And we had the honor (and the pressure) of turning that into a coin worthy of the occasion.

The design centered on the NATO compass rose, sharp and silver, poised like it could point in all four directions at once—and honestly, in NATO, that’s not far off. Beneath it, the vertical stripes of the Belgian flag gave a jolt of color and place, grounding the scene in Brussels. Behind that, a raised rendering of NATO Headquarters added structure and weight, with just enough architectural detail to make any world traveler nod in recognition. We wanted the coin to feel like standing in the heart of it all, hearing the murmur of languages, watching the motorcades glide by.

Around the edge, a deep blue border framed the scene like a diplomatic passport—clean, formal, official. “NATO SUMMIT MAY 2017” read the top arc in raised silver, while a ribbon unfurled across the bottom with “BELGIUM” and “PRESIDENTIAL VISIT OF DONALD J. TRUMP” stamped with the kind of certainty that only history (or a good engraver) can bring.

This wasn’t just a souvenir from a summit. It was a keepsake of firsts—President Trump’s first NATO appearance, a moment of recalibration in U.S. foreign policy, and a reminder that defense, like design, is strongest when it’s layered, thoughtful, and unmistakably united.

So if you’re holding one of these coins, know this—it’s not just a souvenir. It’s a statement. It means you stood near the action, even if you weren’t in the spotlight. And if you’re not holding one yet? That’s okay. We designed it to make you wish you had been. Because moments like these deserve to be remembered. And we’re honored to be the ones who remember them—one summit, one story, one coin at a time.