Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins is a comparison more people are asking about every year — and for good reason. Since the Space Force was carved out of the Air Force in December 2019, the two branches share more history than any other pair of U.S. military services. They share bases, they share the Department of the Air Force, and for years, many Guardians even wore modified Air Force uniforms before service-specific gear was finalized.
But when it comes to challenge coins, the two branches have started to diverge in interesting ways. In this guide, we’ll break down how Space Force and Air Force challenge coins compare — in symbolism, design style, and the traditions each branch draws on.
Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Space Force Challenge Coins | Air Force Challenge Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Core Imagery | Satellites, orbital paths, constellations, Earth-from-orbit, Delta emblem | Wings, fighter jets, squadron mascots, aircraft-specific mission patches |
| Organizational Structure | Deltas and Squadrons | Wings, Groups, and Squadrons |
| Design Inspiration | New frontier — space operations and innovation | Established heritage — aviation and combat history |
| Common Finishes | UV color printing, glow-in-the-dark detailing for space imagery | Antique bronze, gunmetal, traditional military palettes |
| Coin Age/Tradition | New tradition, actively being defined (since 2019) | Decades of established squadron heritage and nicknames |
| Typical Occasions | Delta/Squadron activation, mission launches, orbital operations | Wing anniversaries, combat deployments, aircraft milestones |
| Color Coding | Tied to field command (e.g., silver-grey, gold, bluebird) | Varies by wing/squadron heritage colors |
A Shared Starting Point
To understand Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins, it helps to remember that the Space Force didn’t start from zero. When the branch was activated, it inherited units, personnel, and even organizational culture directly from Air Force Space Command. Early Guardians were, quite literally, former Airmen.
That shared DNA shows up in coin culture too. Both branches use the same basic challenge coin traditions — carrying coins for identification, the “challenge” tradition of producing a coin on demand, and using coins to mark promotions, retirements, and mission milestones. Neither branch invented these customs; both inherited them from a tradition that stretches back to the Army Air Service in World War I. (You can read the full story in our post on the history and meaning of Space Force challenge coins.)
Where the two branches start to separate is in what the coins actually look like, and what they’re designed to represent.
Design Themes: Air, Power, and Legacy vs. Orbit and Innovation
Air Force challenge coins tend to draw on decades of established imagery: wings, fighter jets, squadron mascots, rank insignia, and mission patches tied to specific aircraft or operations. The visual language is grounded — literally — in flight, combat aviation, and a long lineage of named squadrons with deep operational history.
Space Force challenge coins pull from a very different visual world. Because the mission is entirely space-based, common design elements include:
- Satellites and orbital paths
- Launch vehicles and spacecraft
- Constellations and star fields
- Earth-from-orbit imagery
- The Delta emblem, which anchors Space Force organizational identity
This is one of the clearest points in any Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins comparison: Air Force coins tend to look backward at legacy and heritage, while Space Force coins are actively building a new visual identity around a domain no other branch fully owns. (For a closer look at what each of these symbols represents, see our guide on what Space Force challenge coins symbolize.)
Organizational Structure Reflected in Coin Design
Another difference shows up in how each branch’s coins reflect their command structure.
The Air Force organizes around wings, groups, and squadrons — a structure with decades of established heritage, meaning many Air Force coins reference a specific wing’s number, motto, or historic nickname earned over generations.
The Space Force intentionally simplified this. Instead of wings and groups, the service organizes around Deltas and Squadrons — a flatter structure designed to keep the branch “light and lean.” Because of this, Space Force coins frequently feature Delta-level emblems representing an entire mission area, alongside squadron-specific coins tied to a more focused operational role.
This structural difference is a big part of why Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins often look different even when representing similar-sized units — the underlying command architecture each coin represents isn’t the same.
Manufacturing and Finish Trends
Stylistically, both branches use similar high-quality manufacturing techniques — die struck relief, soft enamel, antique finishes, and dual-metal plating are common across both. But there are some noticeable trends:
Air Force coins often lean into deep antique bronze, gunmetal, and traditional military color palettes that complement aviation and combat imagery.
Space Force coins more frequently use techniques suited to depicting space itself, including UV color printing for detailed Earth and galaxy imagery, and glow-in-the-dark elements to represent stars or orbital paths — options that are far less common on traditional Air Force coin designs.
Neither approach is “better.” They simply reflect what each branch’s imagery calls for.
Why the Comparison Matters
For Guardians and Airmen alike, the differences aren’t just cosmetic. A challenge coin is meant to represent a unit’s identity and mission, and Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins reflect two genuinely different missions — one focused on airpower and flight, the other focused on protecting national interests above the atmosphere.
Understanding these distinctions matters most when you’re designing a coin. A Space Force unit borrowing heavily from Air Force-style imagery risks a coin that doesn’t reflect its actual mission. Likewise, an Air Force unit adopting overly space-themed graphics may lose the aviation heritage that gives its coin meaning in the first place.
According to the U.S. Space Force’s own historical materials, the Department of the Air Force still oversees both branches under one Secretary of the Air Force, even though each service now maintains a distinct mission, culture, and visual identity — including in how each designs its challenge coins.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Space Force and Air Force challenge coins made the same way?
Largely, yes — both use similar manufacturing techniques like die-struck relief, soft enamel, and antique finishes. The biggest differences come down to design imagery and finish choices suited to each branch’s mission themes.
2. Why do Space Force coins look so different from Air Force coins?
Because the two branches have different missions. Air Force coins draw on decades of aviation and combat heritage, while Space Force coins are built around a newer visual identity centered on orbital operations, satellites, and space imagery.
3. Did the Space Force inherit any coin traditions from the Air Force?
Yes. Since the Space Force was created from Air Force Space Command, it inherited the same core challenge coin traditions — including the “challenge” custom itself — before developing its own distinct design language.
4. Do Space Force and Air Force coins use the same organizational terms?
Not exactly. The Air Force organizes around wings, groups, and squadrons, while the Space Force uses Deltas and Squadrons. This structural difference often shows up directly in coin design and unit-level emblems.
5. Which branch uses more advanced coin printing techniques?
Space Force coins more frequently use UV color printing and glow-in-the-dark detailing to depict space imagery like stars and orbital paths — techniques that are less commonly needed for traditional Air Force coin designs.
Two Branches, Two Distinct Legacies
Space Force vs. Air Force Challenge Coins ultimately comes down to two branches writing two very different chapters of the same military history. The Air Force carries nearly 80 years of aviation heritage into every coin design. The Space Force is building its own legacy in real time — one Delta, one Squadron, one mission at a time.
Whether you’re designing a coin steeped in aviation tradition or one that captures the new frontier of space, the goal is the same: create something that reflects the mission and the people who earned it.
Ready to design a coin for your Space Force or Air Force unit? Shop our Space Force Challenge Coins or explore our full military challenge coin collection to get started.
