Five Pounds 2023 Music Legends - Shirley Bassey, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

At the time of decimalisation in 1971, the United Kingdom Crown coin (equal to 5 shillings) was redenominated as a 25p coin and pieces struck prior to 1990 - all the way back to 1818 - continue to be legal tender for that amount. The old denomination had been a regular circulating coin in the 19th century, but in the 20th century it became more of a commemorative denomination.

The Royal Mint continued issuing commemorative coins in the same format - using the traditional coin dimensions, but in copper-nickel. These were initially also denominated as 25 pence but the "Crown" was changed in 1990 to a commemorative £5 (five pound) coin, having the same dimensions and weight but with a face value twenty times as great.

The denomination is used to mark special occasions, usually royal in theme, rather than for use in general circulation. Although not circulating, these coins are legal tender.

This commemorative £5 Crown-sized coin celebrating Dame Shirley Bassey is the sixth issue in the Music Legends coin series by the Royal Mint.

The mint says:
The story of Dame Shirley Bassey is almost reminiscent of a fairy tale. Born in Tiger Bay, a deprived area of Cardiff, she was the seventh child of Henry and Eliza Bassey. Global stardom no doubt seemed like an unreachable pipe dream, but Dame Shirley’s tireless work ethic and talent shone through from a young age. She left school at the age of 15 and earned extra money by performing at local working men’s clubs, and it was at one of these venues that her potential was discovered. Signing her first professional contract at the age of 16, Dame Shirley was singing in theatres throughout the United Kingdom by the age of 18, and it didn’t take long for Philips Records to spot her talent and sign her to the label.

The late 1950s saw Dame Shirley earn chart success in the UK, but the popular James Bond film franchise brought her recognition on the worldwide stage. Recording the title song to Goldfinger took her powerful and dramatic voice to an entirely new level, and revealed her supreme vocal talent to a global audience.