Buyer guide · Display cases
How to Specify a Coin or Lapel Pin Collection Case for a Recognition Program
Recognition programs often give members one coin or pin at a time: a coin for each company value, a pin for each donor level. The case is handed out first and filled over the years, so it has to fit items that may not exist yet. This guide covers what to decide before asking for a quote.
Short answer
Start from the items, not the box: send the exact coin diameter and maximum thickness, or the pin size and how many pins the case must hold. Then choose how items are held (fitted slots or a pinnable panel), the lid and closure, the exterior and the marking, and ask for a physical sample with real coins or pins in it before bulk production.
Three recent requests
- Coin collection case, 25 pieces: a US company is creating an eight-coin employee recognition set, seven value coins plus a completion coin, 1.75 in (44.45 mm) diameter and 3.5–4.0 mm thick with raised 3D detail. It asked for a flat desktop case with exactly 8 fitted slots, a couple of modern design options with different materials, linings and lids, and its logo on the case, to arrive in November–December.
- Lapel pin case, 250–300 pieces: a US school donor society needs a compact black hinged case with a black felt or velvet pinnable interior for up to seven 1-inch pins, added as members move up recognition levels, plus a small gold or brass nameplate on the outside, with a physical sample before the full order.
- Wooden display case, 1,000 and 2,000 pieces: a Korean buyer sent a reference design with a magnetic closure and asked for a lower-cost material that gives a similar look instead of expensive solid wood.
Coins: fitted slots
A coin slot is cut to the coin, so the coin's real dimensions matter more than its nominal size. Give the diameter and the thickest point including raised 3D detail and any rim, and send the coin maker's proof if the coins are not made yet. The slot is made slightly larger than the coin so it can be placed and removed by hand, with a finger notch or a soft lining so the plating is not scratched. With a flat desktop case and eight identical slots, the layout (2 × 4, a ring of seven around a centre coin, or a row) changes the case size more than the coin size does.
Lapel pins: pinnable panel and post clearance
Pins are held by their posts and clutch backs, so the panel needs enough depth behind it for the posts, and a lining dense enough to hold the pin straight. Decide whether the seven positions are fixed and marked (good for a program with set levels) or whether the panel is open so members can arrange pins themselves. A compact hinged case with a black felt or velvet panel keeps the focus on the pins.
Lid, closure and marking
Common choices are a hinged lid with a clear acrylic or glass window so the collection can be seen without opening, a solid hinged lid for a presentation box feel, or a sliding lid. Closures are typically hinges with a magnetic catch or a small clasp. Marking can be laser engraving or UV printing on the lid, or a small engraved brass or gold-tone nameplate fixed to the exterior. Send logo artwork as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG.
Material by quantity
We work with walnut, oak, beech, pine, MDF, bamboo, rubber wood, cherry and mahogany. For 25 executive cases, solid walnut or oak with a visible grain is common. For hundreds or thousands of identical cases, MDF with veneer or a painted or wrapped finish gives a consistent look at a lower price than solid wood. Natural wood grain varies between pieces, so approve the appearance on a physical sample.
Quantity, samples and timing
Orders start from 1 piece, so a 25-case program can be fully custom. All-wood samples can be made in as little as 1 day once the design is confirmed; samples with metal or acrylic parts are generally within 1 week. After sample approval, orders of roughly 100–1,000 pieces typically ship within about 3 weeks. Transit is separate, so give the required arrival date and delivery postcode with your inquiry; EXW and DDP pricing are both available.
What to send for a quote
- The coins or pins: diameter or size, maximum thickness, quantity per case
- How items are held: fitted slots or pinnable panel, fixed or open layout
- Reference photos of cases you like, lid and closure preference
- Logo or nameplate text and artwork file
- Number of cases, delivery country and postcode, required arrival date
Questions buyers ask
How are coin slots sized for a challenge coin collection case?
From the actual coin: send the diameter and the maximum thickness including raised 3D detail, for example 1.75 in (44.45 mm) and 3.5–4.0 mm. The slot is cut slightly larger than the coin so it can be placed and removed by hand, and the fit is checked on the sample with real coins before production.
Should a lapel pin case have fixed positions or an open pinnable area?
Fixed, marked positions suit a program with a set number of levels, such as seven pins added one by one; an open pinnable felt or velvet panel suits collections that may grow. Either way, the depth behind the panel must clear the pin posts and clutch backs.
What is the minimum order for a custom display case?
Yuesen accepts wood-product orders from 1 piece, so a 25-case recognition program can be made as a fully custom order. The setup work is spread over fewer pieces, so the unit price is higher than at 300 or 1,000 pieces.
How long do samples and production take?
All-wood samples can be made in as little as 1 day once the design is confirmed; samples with metal or acrylic parts are generally within 1 week. After sample approval, orders of roughly 100–1,000 pieces typically ship within about 3 weeks. International transit is additional.
Do I need solid wood for 1,000 or 2,000 cases?
Not necessarily. For large runs where a consistent look and price matter more than visible solid grain, MDF with a wood veneer or a painted or wrapped finish is often used. Compare a sample of each option before choosing.