Coin Colored Enamel Options

Shown above, left to right are Pantone matched colors applied with hard enamel, soft enamel, and soft enamel + epoxy,

Soft enamel results in a coin which has metal areas that will appear to be "raised up". In fact, the metal is the same height on all three examples — the soft enamel is just recessed slightly into the coin. It's a true classic challenge coin look — and feel — that many appreciate and prefer. In cases where there will be maximum coverage of enamel on the coin, in large areas of a single color, there can sometimes be small imperfections in the enamel.

In the center coin, the soft enamel — identical to the coin on the far left — has been covered by a protective coating of clear epoxy, which does a few things: 1) it protects the enamel which is not quite as durable as hard enamel, 2) it also greatly smooths out any small imperfections in the enamel, 3) it gives a glassy / heightened saturation appearance to the colors, and 4) it also makes the metal of the coin seem to glimmer more. It is a very attractive look. Something it also does is act as a sort of "silencer" by absorbing vibration — when a coin has the epoxy coating, it does not have much of the classic "ring" that all solid brass coins inherently have. It's a fine point, but nonetheless sometimes it's nice to flip a heavy coin and hear the wonderful ring it makes!

The third example at the right uses hard enamel. Hard enamel is a substantially different color application process, and results in the color being level / smooth to the metal's surface, not recessed. It's a clean, high end look. Also, as it's name implies, it is also very durable. It is not suggested for antique plated coins as the colors can become muted from the antiquing, nor is epoxy applied to hard enamel.

All three look fantastic, and while each option tells a different story, it's also a personal preference as to which you might choose for your coins.