The department wanted the coin shaped like a vintage fire station bell, which is the right instinct for a 150th anniversary: the object that marks the history rather than the equipment that replaced it. Coins went to all of the department’s crews.
Marking a Long History on a Small Object
A 150th anniversary is a lot to put on a coin, and the usual approach of listing things does not work.
Dates, not a timeline. Two numbers, the founding year and the current one, say a century and a half in four digits each. A list of milestones will not fit at a readable size and would turn the face into a document.
One object from the period beats a montage. This is the key decision on this coin. A bell is a single recognizable thing that places the department in its own era immediately. A collage of a hand pumper, a horse-drawn engine, a modern aerial and a firefighter would be four subjects, each too small to read.
Choose the object people still have. Many departments still have the original bell, mounted outside the station or in the bay. An anniversary coin shaped like an object the crews walk past every day is a much stronger piece than one carrying a generic symbol.
And leave the current apparatus off. A 150 year coin that features today’s engine will look dated in fifteen years. The historic object will not, because it is already historic.
See also a 100 year challenge coin and a lodge anniversary coin.
Why the Bell Works as an Outline
A bell is one of the better custom shapes available, for reasons that are structural as well as symbolic.
The silhouette is unmistakable. A flared body, a straight waist and a crown or yoke at the top. Nobody needs to be told what it is, which means the shape identifies the coin before any detail is read.
It is broad and solid. No narrow points, no thin projections. The widest part is at the bottom, which gives the piece weight where it needs it and makes it the sturdiest kind of custom outline.
It is vertical, which suits a layout. A bell gives you three natural zones running down the face: the crown at the top for a small element, the waist for the department name, and the broad skirt for the dates or the main device. A circle offers no such structure.
And the mouth anchors it. A tall shape needs visual weight at the base or it looks precarious. The flare at the bottom of a bell does that without anything having to be added.
The one thing to specify is the crown. A bell’s yoke and mounting hardware are the fine detail at the top, and they are either simplified into the outline or rendered as internal engraving. Attempting them as actual projections is where this shape becomes fragile. See custom shaped challenge coins.
A Coin for Every Crew
Coins went to all the department’s crews, which is worth noting because it sets the quantity differently from a commemorative sold to the public.
An anniversary coin issued to everyone serving is a roster count plus a margin, and the margin matters more here than usual for three reasons.
Retirees will want one. A 150th anniversary belongs to everybody who served, not only to people currently on shift. Departments that order to the active roster almost always wish they had not.
The city has a stake. Council members, the mayor’s office, mutual aid partners and the historical society all reasonably expect one at a milestone like this.
And it cannot be reordered cheaply once dated. A coin carrying 150 years is good for one anniversary. Order generously now rather than discovering the shortfall after the event.
About the Department and the Anniversary
The Sanford Fire Department’s stated mission is to provide protection and prevention against the loss of life and property by fire, alongside emergency services and hazard mitigation.
In 2023 the department marked 150 years of service with a mural ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the men and women who have served the community across that period.
An anniversary event with its own ceremony is the ideal occasion for a coin, because there is a date, a gathering and a known audience. See more firefighter challenge coins and commemorative challenge coins.
Order an Anniversary Coin
Professional artwork is free with unlimited revisions, and nothing goes into production until you approve a digital proof. The challenge coin minimum is 50 pieces, standard production runs about 45 to 50 days after final artwork approval, rush production is available on many projects, and shipping within the continental United States is included. Embleholics is veteran-owned, SDVOSB and registered in SAM.gov.
Two suggestions. Work backward from the ceremony date, allowing about 45 to 50 days of production after final artwork approval plus artwork and proof rounds, because an anniversary date does not move. And if your department still has an original piece of equipment, a bell, a hose cart, a ladder, consider shaping the coin to it; an object the crews walk past every day makes a far better anniversary piece than a generic symbol. Request a free quote to begin.
Finished Coin (Front)
Finished Coin (Back)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fire department anniversary coin?
It is a commemorative coin marking a milestone year for a department, usually issued to everyone serving. The design normally carries the founding and current years and a single object or device representing the department’s history.
How do you fit 150 years onto a coin?
With two dates and one object, not a timeline. The founding and current years say a century and a half in eight digits, and a single recognizable object places the department in its era. A list of milestones will not fit at a readable size.
Should an anniversary coin show current apparatus?
No. A coin featuring today’s engine will look dated within fifteen years, where a historic object will not, because it is already historic. The historic choice ages better on an object meant to commemorate age.
Can a coin be shaped like a bell?
Yes, and it is one of the sturdier custom outlines. The silhouette is unmistakable, there are no narrow points or thin projections, and the flare at the bottom gives the piece visual weight at the base.
How does a bell shape affect the layout?
It gives you three natural vertical zones: the crown at the top for a small element, the waist for the department name, and the broad skirt for the dates or main device. A round coin offers no such structure.
What is the fragile part of a bell shaped coin?
The crown and mounting hardware at the top. Those are best simplified into the outline or rendered as internal engraving rather than attempted as actual projections, which is where the shape becomes vulnerable.
How many anniversary coins should we order?
Your active roster plus a substantial margin. Retirees, council members, mutual aid partners and the historical society will all reasonably expect one, and a dated anniversary coin cannot be reordered cheaply afterward.
When should we order for an anniversary ceremony?
Work backward from the date. Allow about 45 to 50 days of production after final artwork approval, plus artwork and proof rounds before that. Rush production is available on many projects if the date is tight.
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