Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. Most of these by tradition are measured in troy ounces of fractions thereof, but the mint also introduced metric coins measuring one kilogram of pure metal (they are actually fractionally heavier as a whole, to account for the small amount of other metal in the alloy).
The 1 kg gold coins are denominated as One Thousand Pounds (£1,000), although their intrinsic (bullion) value is much higher than their face value. The coins vary in design depending on the occasion (they are "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs).
The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art.
This commemorative gold one kilo coin is the first in the "Music Legends" series of coins and celebrates the famous rock band Queen.
The "Music Legends" collection from The Royal Mint pays tribute to the bands and artists whose attitude, sound and look came to define each passing decade - a legacy perfectly encapsulated in each coin design.
This first coin in the series features one of the most iconic rock bands of all time. Formed in London in the early 1970s, Queen augmented their hard rock sound with pop sensibilities, redefining the genre and elevating it to another level. Recording a string of smash hits, fans flocked to see them live, their foot-stomping anthems and epic ballads delivered with panache by their flamboyant frontman, tragically gone too soon.
Hugely anticipated by coin collectors and music fans alike, Queen are celebrated with a design that features the iconic instruments played by each founding member: Brian May’s Red Special guitar, John Deacon’s Fender Precision bass, Roger Taylor’s Ludwig bass drum and Freddie Mercury’s Bechstein grand piano with the opening notes of Bohemian Rhapsody pressed down.
The design has been officially approved by Roger Taylor and Brian May. |