Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The quarter ounce (1/4 oz) gold coins are denominated as Twenty-five Pounds (£25).
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. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with other denominations with the same reverse designs.
This commemorative quarter-ounce gold 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. |