The half ounce silver piece is a bullion and commemorative denomination issued by the Royal Mint. It is used mostly for Britannia-type coins: British bullion coins issued in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. Some of the one-year types are not Britannia-themed though.
This commemorative silver half-ounce coin celebrating The Who is the fourth in the Music Legends coin series by the Royal Mint; earlier coins commemorated Queen, Sir Elton John and David Bowie.
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century and have sold over 100 million records worldwide. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.
The Royal Mint says: "Our Music Legends collection showcases iconic acts from the nation’s diverse musical past and present. It is not often that a band will span generations, but The Who, with their explosive performances, have been a part of Britain’s soundtrack for more than 50 years. Together, groundbreaking lead guitarist Pete Townshend, microphone-twirling Roger Daltrey, John ‘The Ox’ Entwistle, and maverick drummer Keith Moon challenged genres, broke records and thrilled fans with their unique style.
Artist Henry Gray has included some of the most iconic symbols from the band’s live and loud performances in his design. A Union flag, mod logo and speaker-smashing Rickenbacker guitar all feature in the form of a pinball table, which is a nod to Tommy, one of the band’s most famous creations." |