Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The one ounce (1 oz) silver coins are denominated as either two pounds (£2) or five pounds (£5), depending on the occasion.
Initially, these were only of the Britannia type, but in 2015 the Royal Mint started to use the format for coins with other types of reverse designs, celebrating various aspects of British heritage.
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 bullion silver one-ounce 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.
The "Music Legends" range of coins featuring Queen consists mostly of proof coins; this one though is a "bullion" coin released in Brilliant Uncirculated grade, in a protective plastic capsule, with mintage limited at 25,000. In keeping with Royal Mint convention, the obverse has a textured background to distinguish the coin from the proof versions; another difference is that the precious metal content is written on the reverse. |