Queen became the first band to be commemorated on a British coin — and it’s all because of the series of collectibles released by the Royal Mint on January 20 of this year.
Queen received such honor after the U.K.’s Royal Mail announced plans to mark their 50th anniversary with a postage stamp kicking off in July.
The coin was created by Royal Mint designer Chris Facey, a long-time supporter of Freddie Mercury and his band.
“My first memory of Queen was hearing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the film Wayne’s World, and I’ve been a big fan ever since,” Facey told ITV.
Guitarist Brian May said on his website: “This is a big ‘Who could have imagined it?’ moment for us. When we began as Queen, even the first rung of the ladder to recognition seemed remote and unreachable. To have our band recognized and our music celebrated in this way is very touching, a real honor.”
“Marvelous, all this fuss over our band,” drummer Roger Taylor added. “I feel entirely spent.”
Obviously, the coins can’t be used as legal tender, though they will be released in a series of options and price points, from £13 ($16.89) for a £5 brilliant uncirculated coin featured in a standard slipcase, £15 ($19.49) for the same item in a range of slipcases limited to 25,000 each, £60 ($77.96) for a half-ounce silver proof coin limited to 17,500, £90 ($116.95) for a one-ounce silver proof coin limited to 7,500, and £510 ($662.96) for a quarter-ounce gold proof coin limited to 1,250. While the final edition, a one-ounce gold proof coin, retailing at £2,020 ($2,624.79) is already sold out.