Guide · process choice

Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel: Which One Should You Choose?

Soft enamel leaves the colour sitting in the recess, so you can feel the metal ridges under your
finger. Hard enamel is filled, baked, then polished flat with the metal surface, so it feels smooth.
Both use the same die and the same 18–25 day production window; hard enamel adds polishing steps and
cost.

What is the difference in one sentence?

Run a finger across the face: soft enamel has raised metal ridges you can feel around each colour
pocket; hard enamel is flat and smooth, because the colour is filled flush and then polished level
with the metal. That single tactile difference drives everything else — the look, the durability,
which plating pairs with it, and where each one belongs.

How is each one actually made?

Both start identically: a steel die is cut from your approved artwork, the zinc alloy is cast under
pressure, the piece is trimmed and tumbled, and the metal is plated. They diverge at colour. Soft
enamel is hand-filled colour by colour into the recessed pockets, then baked at low temperature; the
colour settles slightly below the ridges, which is exactly why the ridges stay feelable. Hard enamel
is filled in multiple passes with longer bakes, then each face is wet-polished flat until colour and
metal sit at the same level, and the piece is finished again. Those extra bakes and the flat
polishing passes are the entire reason hard enamel costs more — there is no "better material" in
the price, only more labour.

Does hard enamel cost more?

Yes — more process steps, more labour, more polishing time. The exact delta is confirmed with your
quote rather than published, because it scales with the number of colour pockets and the face area.
For orientation: the only band we publish is a 2" two-sided enamel coin at 100–299 pieces, at
$3.50–$4.20 per piece; within a quoted order, hard enamel sits at the upper end of the range and
soft enamel at the lower end. If your decision is purely budget, soft enamel is the value choice
and it is not a compromise — it is what most ordered coins in the industry are made of.

Which one lasts longer?

Hard enamel, in the ways that matter for daily carry. Its flat face has no recessed pockets to
trap dirt and skin oils, and scratches tend to polish out rather than stand out. Soft enamel's
ridges are the wear point: under heavy rubbing the raised lines can lose their crisp edge, and the
colour pockets can collect grime that dulls the contrast. For a coin that lives in a pocket for a
decade, hard enamel ages better. For a medal that lives in a display case, the difference is mostly
academic — pick the one that looks right.

Which should I pick for a challenge coin?

Start from how the coin lives. Daily hand-offs and pocket carry → hard enamel: smooth, no dirt
traps, wears like jewelry. Ceremony pieces, retirement coins, anything meant to look issued and
lived-in → soft enamel with antique plating, because the recesses are what make the antique finish
visible. That last point is a hard process constraint, not a preference: the antique effect lives in
the darkened recesses, and hard enamel's flat polishing removes it. A coin that wants an antique
bronze look must be soft enamel.

How many colours can each hold?

Both are hand-filled colour by colour, so the practical ceiling is the same: six colours or fewer
is the comfortable zone. Past six, price steps up (more filling passes) and colour registration
error rises, because adjacent pockets share hand-painted boundaries. Design trick that works for
both: merge near-duplicate shades — two blues that read identically at 50 mm are one colour, not
two — and let the metal do the outlining that a print designer would do with a stroke.

Does the choice change lead time?

The published window covers both: 18–25 days from written proof approval, because mold cutting
(5–7 days), sample (3–5 days), production (7–10 days) and QC (2–3 days) are the same. Hard enamel
tightens the scheduling margin — the polishing passes are the most rework-prone stage — so for a
hard enamel order against a fixed date, approve the proof fast and we confirm the schedule in
writing. Rush production is quoted per project and confirmed per order.

Soft enamel vs hard enamel — the complete comparison
Attribute	Soft enamel	Hard enamel
Surface	Recessed colour, metal ridges feelable	Polished flat, smooth to the touch
Look	Brighter colour, more contrast, visible outline	Flatter, jewellery-like, softer reflections
Durability	Good; ridges wear first under heavy rubbing	Better; no recess to trap dirt
Antique / distressed finish	Works — plating stays visible in the recess	Does not work — polishing removes the antique effect
Extra process steps	None beyond fill and bake	Multiple bakes plus flat polishing
Price position	Lower end of the quoted range	Upper end; exact delta quoted per order

Soft enamel vs hard enamel FAQs

Is hard enamel always better?

No. Hard enamel is smoother and wears better, but polishing flattens
the metal detail and removes any antique finish. If you want a coin that looks issued and
lived-in, soft enamel with antique plating is the correct choice, not the cheaper one.

Do both need a mold?

Yes, the die is the same for both: $80–150 for a standard 2D design,
$150–300 for 3D relief. You are not paying twice to switch finishes before production, and the
mold stays yours for 24 months.

Can I mix the two on one piece?

Yes, common on coins: hard enamel on the main field for a smooth
finish, soft enamel or recessed detail on the centre relief so the crest keeps its depth. It is
quoted as one piece with a mixed fill spec.

How do I check before committing to 200 pieces?

Ask for a physical sample. It ships in 48 hours, costs $30–50, and the
fee is credited in full against the order. Enamel colour on metal never matches a screen, so the
sample is the only honest check.

Get a quote with both finishes priced
See what 100 pieces costs in each finish