Queen make history – again – as first band to be celebrated with their own commemorative coin
Queen guitarist Brian May showing off the new commemorative coin (Twitter/@QueenWillRock)
The UK Royal Mint has announced that music legends Queen will be the first ever British band to join the actual Queen on a commemorative coin.
Released today, the coin is the first in The Royal Mint’s new ‘Music Legends’ collection that celebrates the lasting legacy of iconic artists and bands.
The design pays tribute to all four members of Queen, with Freddie Mercury’s microphone and Bechstein grand piano, Brian May’s ‘Red Special’ guitar, Roger Taylor’s Ludwig bass drum and John Deacon’s Fender Precision bass. The coin is completed by Queen’s iconic logo.
“This is a big ‘Who could have imagined it?’ moment for us,” said Brian May. “When we began as Queen, even the first rung of the ladder to recognition seemed remote and unreachable.
“To have our band recognised and our music celebrated in this way is very touching – a real honour.”
Roger Taylor added: “Marvellous, all this fuss over our band. I feel entirely spent.”
The three notes shown pressed down on the keyboard represent the opening notes of the 1975 hit “Bohemian Rhapsody”, explained Royal Mint coin designer Chris Facey. He said it was an honour to commemorate the “extraordinary” band on the first coin he designed.
Queen will be celebrated with the launch of a commemorative coin collection; the first time a band has appeared on a UK coin!
Overseen by @DrBrianMay & Roger Taylor @officialRMT discover the official Queen UK commemorative coin at https://t.co/unxLMEUrCz pic.twitter.com/SZomYv0lQu
— Queen (@QueenWillRock) January 20, 2020
It’s the first time a British band has ever been celebrated on UK coinage, according to Royal Mint CCO Nicola Howell.
“British music is one of our greatest contributions to culture around the world, and it’s musicians like Queen who are at the forefront of this,” she said, explaining the decision to honour the band.
The coin is available from the Royal Mint’s official website in a gold proof, silver proof and a more affordable uncirculated coin.
Prices for the limited edition coins range from £13 for a £5 brilliant uncirculated coin to £2,020 for the one-ounce gold proof coin in a £100 denomination.
