ECO UV printing on minted coins puts photographic-quality colour directly onto metal: no enamel fills, no colour limitations, no need to simplify the artwork. For a theatrical production company that needed a set of custom collector coins tied to their show’s visual identity, this technique produced four distinct designs: a breaking ocean wave, desert dunes at sunset, a desert rose, and a traditional dhow under a golden sky. Each coin is 38.6mm across, silver-plated, and UK-made.
The client wanted physical souvenirs that reflected the visual world of their production, imagery spanning desert and ocean. They needed something that would work as a genuine collectable rather than a generic commemorative item. The imagery was photographic: atmospheric light, fine texture, deep colour gradients. Standard enamel couldn’t handle that.
Four designs, each based on a distinct scene. The artwork was photographic, with full gradients and fine texture, and needed to translate accurately onto a 38.6mm coin face. The coins also had to work as a set: consistent in size and finish, each design distinct enough to stand alone.
Merit produced the coins using ECO UV print on a die-stamped base metal blank with silver plating. ECO UV is a direct-to-surface process that applies UV-cured ink at high resolution onto the polished coin face. Unlike enamel, which is limited to flat colour fills within recessed areas, ECO UV reproduces continuous-tone imagery: the gradients and fine detail found in photography.
The blank was struck first: 38.6mm diameter, 2.8mm depth, milled edge. Silver plating was applied before printing. The four designs were then printed individually, each filling the full coin face edge to edge.
Four 38.6mm silver-plated coins, each carrying a different full-colour scene. The ocean wave reproduces deep blues and cloud detail across the entire face. The desert scenes carry warm gradients from orange through gold to deep red. The dhow at sunset has the tonal depth of a fine art print. As a set, they read as collectables, not corporate giveaways.
If you’re sourcing commemorative coins with colour printing for an event or production, and the artwork is photographic or detailed, ECO UV print is worth a conversation. Send Merit your artwork and the quantity you need and they’ll advise on the right base metal and plating combination.
Get in touch at sales@meritbadge.co.uk or call +44(0)1905 791350.
What kind of artwork works best with ECO UV print on coins?
Photography, digital illustration, and any continuous-tone image work well. The process reproduces gradients, fine detail, and a wide colour range. Flat, simple artwork also works, but ECO UV’s real strength is imagery that enamel can’t handle. If you have artwork as a high-resolution file, Merit can advise on how it will translate to coin size.
Can ECO UV coins be produced in multiple designs from one order?
Yes. It’s common to produce a set of coins, four designs for example, that share a consistent size, finish, and edge treatment while each carrying a different image. Each design is printed separately. There’s no hard minimum order quantity per design, though higher quantities reduce the unit cost.
How durable is ECO UV print on a metal coin?
ECO UV ink is cured directly onto the coin surface and bonds well to plated metal. These coins are collectables, not currency, so they aren’t built for heavy daily handling, but they hold up well to normal display and gifting use. A protective coating can be applied where additional durability is needed.
Merit Badge & Regalia Co Ltd, 4 George Baylis Road, Droitwich, WR9 9RB, United Kingdom
+44 (0)1905 791350 | sales@meritbadge.co.uk
