The Royal Mint unveils a UK coin celebrating rock icon Freddie Mercury, an extraordinary tribute to the showman whose voice and stage presence defined generations. The collectible coin captures Mercury mid-performance at the height of his powers, showcasing the flamboyant frontman in full flow with his signature inscribed alongside his portrait. The design’s intricate details tell the story of Mercury’s extraordinary talent through carefully crafted elements. His legendary four octave vocal range is represented by a musical stave that runs around the edge of the coin, spanning from bass to treble notes. The studded armband edge design draws inspiration from his iconic Live Aid performance outfit, a fitting tribute to what many consider the greatest rock performance of all time.
This celebration commemorates the 40th anniversary of Queen’s show-stealing performance at Live Aid in July 1985 and the 40th anniversary of Freddie’s first solo studio album, ‘Mr. Bad Guy’, released the same year. A selection of the coins will feature colour, bringing Freddie’s iconic yellow jacket to life on the coin design and capturing the vibrant energy that made him such a magnetic stage presence. In a special moment that brought the coin’s creation full circle, Freddie Mercury’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, visited The Royal Mint to strike the very first coin herself. “Striking the first coin at The Royal Mint was such an emotional and proud moment for me,” Bulsara shares. “Freddie would have been absolutely delighted to see himself honoured in this way and to know that his family was part of bringing this tribute to life.”
The Royal Mint will gift a special gold proof version of the coin to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity founded in Mercury’s memory. The charity will auction this unique piece in the coming months, continuing Mercury’s mission to support those affected by HIV and AIDS. Mercury is the latest music artist to form part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing Music Legends coin series, celebrating the greatest singers and songwriters in British history. Mercury follows David Bowie, George Michael, Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney in being honored on their very own UK coin. The Music Legends coin series has delivered nearly half a million coins to enthusiasts in 108 countries globally.