VP-65 Navy Squadron Challenge Coin

The tradition behind the squadron challenge coin is closely connected to military aviation. One of the most commonly told stories about the origins of challenge coins involves early military pilots carrying medallions representing their squadrons. Beyond representing unit identity and camaraderie, these medallions could also help identify a pilot if they were shot down or separated from their unit.

That history makes Navy challenge coins especially meaningful for aviation squadrons. They can preserve the aircraft, insignia, history, and traditions associated with a command long after an individual deployment or even the squadron itself has ended.

VP-65 Navy Squadron Challenge Coin

We had the opportunity to create this Navy squadron challenge coin for VP-65, a now-retired Naval Air Squadron that flew the P-3 Orion out of Southern California.

The front of the coin highlights the squadron’s patch and identity. On the reverse, we recreated the P-3 Orion with detailed three-dimensional artwork designed to give the aircraft greater depth and definition. Aircraft can be particularly demanding subjects for challenge coin artwork because recognizable features, proportions, and equipment need to remain identifiable even when translated onto a relatively small piece of metal.

We completed the design with an antique silver finish, which works especially well with the dimensional aircraft artwork and gives the finished squadron coin a traditional military appearance.

Creating Detailed Aviation Challenge Coins

Aircraft, ships, vehicles, buildings, equipment, and unit insignia can all be incorporated into a custom challenge coin. The key is translating the original reference material into artwork that works at the physical size of the finished coin without losing the details that make the subject recognizable.

Our artists can work from photographs, existing patches, logos, sketches, aircraft references, or other source material. Features such as 3D sculpting and other challenge coin manufacturing options can then be used when appropriate to create additional depth and detail.

For Navy squadrons, designs can incorporate aircraft, squadron insignia, command names, deployment information, dates, callsigns, mottos, locations, and other elements meaningful to the people who served with the unit.

Create a Custom Navy Squadron Challenge Coin

Whether your coin is for an active squadron, a deployment, retirement, reunion, anniversary, command milestone, or a decommissioned unit like VP-65, we can help turn the history behind the organization into a finished challenge coin design.

Explore our custom Navy challenge coins page for more information, or browse our challenge coin gallery to see other completed military and organizational projects.

Already have a squadron patch, aircraft image, sketch, or idea? Request a free challenge coin quote and send us your reference material, quantity, and project details.