Music Legends £5 series rocks the nation!
Everyone has different tastes in music, but there are some artists you just can’t deny are true Music Legends, and The Royal Mint are celebrating these icons on a series on UK £5 coins!
The latest addition to the Music Legends series celebrates none other than songwriting genius and The Beatles star, Sir Paul McCartney! Some would say All You Need Is this coin in your collection!
From The Beatles and Wings, to countless solo albums and collaborations, Paul McCartney has been a constant figure in British music for more than 6 decades! Designed by Osborne Ross in partnership with MPL Communications Limited, the Paul McCartney £5 features his iconic ‘Magic Piano’ and Höfner violin bass along with the Wings logo and his signature. There really is no better way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Beatlemania going global, so Let It Be the next addition to your collection!
2024 George Michael £5
It’s the Music Legends £5 I Knew You Were Waiting for! George Michael rocked onto a UK £5, and this Amazing coin also coincided with the 40th anniversary of his first solo song, Careless Whisper.
One of the best-selling musicians of all time, It’s estimated that George Michael sold over 125 million records worldwide during his career – with smash hits such as Faith, Freedom! ‘90 and Fastlove.
The 2024 UK George Michael £5 features an instantly recognisable image of the star in his ‘Faith’ era, complete with his trademark sunglasses.
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on your chance to add the George Michael £5 to your collection, click here to secure yours >>
2023 The Police £5
Dubbed ‘the biggest band in the world’ by Rolling Stone magazine in 1983, The Police were one of the definitive rock groups of the 1970s and 80s. To celebrate 40 years since their final album Synchronicity, the band features on the latest Music Legends £5 coin!
The English rock band, fronted by lead vocalist Sting, have never before been featured on a UK coin, and with a massive 75 million record sales under their belt, it’s only fitting that they’ve been celebrated on the latest Music Legends £5 coin.
Inspired by The Classics
The reverse design takes inspiration from both the Synchronicity album cover and the Every Breath You Take: The Classics cover art.
The 2023 UK Police £5 is only the second coin in The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series to feature King Charles III on the obverse, continuing this exciting dual-monarch series of £5 coins.
Don’t miss out on adding The Police £5 to your collection, click here to secure yours >>
2023 Dame Shirley Bassey £5
Without a doubt, Dame Shirley Bassey is one of the most iconic British vocalists of the 20th Century, so it’s only fitting that she features on the latest coin in The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series. The brand new 2023 UK Dame Shirley Bassey £5 coin celebrates 70 years of the Dame’s incredible legacy in show business.
Spot the hidden details
Designer Sue Aperghis has really captured the essence of Dame Shirley Bassey’s incredible talent and style with a design featuring her silhouette and name in lights, and a Welsh dragon to represent her birthplace. There are also a few hidden details…
Bassey is perhaps best known for featuring on the soundtracks of three James Bond theme songs, Diamonds are Forever, Moonraker and Goldfinger. The names of all three Bond tracks feature within the design, but can you find them all?
The 2023 Dame Shirley Bassey £5 is the first coin in the Music Legends series to feature King Charles III on the obverse. All 4 of the previous Music Legends coins have featured Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy on the obverse, making it one of the first dual portrait UK commemorative £5 series.
Don’t miss out on adding the 2023 UK Dame Shirley Bassey £5 to your collection, secure yours here >>
2022 The Rolling Stones £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
This Music Legends coin celebrates 60 years of iconic rock band, The Rolling Stones!
The design shows the band in concert, with their name above them and dates ‘62-‘22 at the bottom, representing the anniversary.
In 2021, The Rolling Stones became the highest earning live act of the year, as announced by Rolling Stone magazine – this isn’t surprising when you consider their huge fanbase across the world!
On the obverse, you’ll spot Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II‘s portrait, but did you know that this was one of the last £5 coins to feature The Queen before the introduction of King Charles III’s coin portrait?
Add the 2022 The Rolling Stones £5 to your collection >>
2021 The Who £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The fourth Music Legends to feature in this £5 coin series was British group, The Who. The Who were amongst the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and ’70s. Key to defining the mod genre and originating the ‘rock opera’ both in Britain and worldwide, The Who are without a doubt, true Music Legends.
The 2021 The Who £5 was designed by artist, Henry Gray to include a Union flag, mod logo and Rickenbacker guitar within a Tommy inspired pinball table, this superb coin acts as a nod to some of the band’s most famous creations.
Mod-Rock Legends
Among the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and ’70s, The Who were key to defining the mod genre and originated the ‘rock opera’ both in Britain and worldwide. Despite having an early influence from the American Rhythm and Blues genre, The Who’s move towards a new style of British rock allowed them to reject any form of pretension when dealing with teenage frustrations.
The Who’s undeniable popularity, which spans across generations, has granted them numerous awards and they even reached the Grammy Hall of Fame for their single ‘My Generation’ and the albums ‘Tommy’ and ‘Who’s Next’.
Click here to secure The Who £5 for your collection >>
2020 UK David Bowie £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The third coin in the Music Legend series celebrates the icon that is David Bowie.
The coin, by Jody Clark, features a design which pays tribute to Bowie’s Aladdin Sane era. It depicts the music legend transitioning between his various personas, set against his iconic ‘BOWIE’ font and the world-famous lightning bolt that Bowie sported as his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
Encapsulating everything Bowie stood for; transformation, non-conformism, and vibrancy, this £5 coin pays the perfect tribute to one of the UK’s biggest Music Legends of all time.
Bowie’s songs depicted the ups and downs being an outsider: an alien, a misfit, or even a faraway astronaut! His music appealed to all, with a blend of rock, cabaret, jazz and soul. It was this eclectic mix of style and honest charm that defined him as one of the greatest music legends of the 20th century.
During Bowie’s vibrant career, he released 27 studio albums, 128 singles, and 72 music videos. Some of his most famous works include Space Oddity (1969), Life on Mars? (1971), Heroes (1977), and Ashes to Ashes (1980).
Sadly, in 2016 David Bowie passed away just two days after his birthday, leaving behind a legacy of nonconformist music and style.
And, in 2020 his legacy lives on, with the release of the David Bowie £5 >>
2020 UK Elton John £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The second coin in the Music Legends series celebrated Sir Elton John, who has been delighting his fans for more than half a century.
Since his very first self-titled album in 1970, Elton John has sold in excess of 300 million records worldwide. Some of his chart-topping hits include, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, and ‘I’m Still Standing’.
He also found success on Broadway, composing for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. As recognition of his contribution to music, Sir Elton John was knighted in 1998 and in 2020 he was celebrated on a £5 for the first time.
The reverse design of this £5 coin, by Bradley Morgan Johnson, represents John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ era. Speaking of the design, Johnson said, “I’m Still Standing was one of [his] favourite childhood pop tracks” and you can definitely see the influence this song had on the design of this coin.
The best thing about this coin, is that Sir Elton John himself approved the design! By owning this coin, you really are in possession of some huge music legend memorabilia.
To secure the 2020 Elton John £5 for your collection, click here >>
2020 Queen £5 Coin
*No longer available at the Mint*
The very first £5 coin in the Music Legends series paid tribute to one of Britain’s most iconic and influential bands – Queen.
Formed in London in 1970, Queen instantly rocked the nation and became a British icon, creating unique and timeless songs which are still loved to this day. As of 2005, Queen’s albums have spent the equivalent of 26 years in the UK Album Charts! (According to the Guinness Book of World Records).
The design of this £5 coin by Chris Facey, showcases the iconic instruments of all four founder members of the band: Brian May’s Red Special guitar, John Deacon’s Fender Precision Bass™, Roger Taylor’s Ludwig™ bass drum, and Freddy Mercury’s Bechstein™ grand piano.
The Queen £5 is full of ‘firsts’, such as…
- The first-time ever that Queen have featured on a coin worldwide
- The first-time ever a British band has been celebrated on UK coinage
- The first coin to be issued in the new series celebrating British Music Legends.
What’s more, band members Brian May and Roger Taylor have officially approved the design of this coin!
To add the 2020 UK Queen £5 to your collection, click here >>
Who is your favourite Music Legend?
We’d love to know which coin in this Music Legends £5 series is your favourite so far, so let us know in the comments below!
Never miss a UK coin issue when you sign up to our BU Coin Subscription service. Find out more >>
Why haven’t they done a coin with the beatles. Elvis cliff Richard who they called the english elvis in the 60s but I
Hi checkers I think George Michael or Michael Jackson on a new £5 coin that would be cool or the rolling stones there r alot of music legends out there including the late reggae legend Bob Marley + Tina Turner + the late great Whitney Houston these would be cool on a £5 coin aswell
Hi Joanne,
I have to agree with you on those! Some great Music Legends there 🙂
Thanks,
Alex
A new £5 coin ? In Remembrance of:-
Wot about Dame Vera Lynn.
At least you could hear all the words of the lovely voice, And a sweetheart of the nation
She really is a sweetheart of the nation!
Without doubt the next coin should be DAVID BOWIE,the greatest influence in music ever
Nobody compares to Bowie in music history as he wasn’t just a musician,he was an Actor,Artist,Fashion Icon,Innovator and was first Artist to release Bonds payment against future Royalties,1st to release single Internet only…the list goes on
Bowie has to be next one
Hi Paul,
Bowie certainly is a true Music Legend, and a legend for all of the reasons you also listed! It would be great to see him celebrated on a UK coin!
Thanks,
Alex
Next coin should be dave Greenfield keyboard legend
Pink floyd coin would be awesome, David Gilmore absolute legend. Thanks an thanks for my new hobby ?
Now that we are into February 2020 is there ANY chance of making the 2019 I D cards available so that I can update my Change Checker book. I understand that you had to wait to know which 2019 coins are in in circulation but 2019 ended 2 months ago.
Hi Jim, we have been working on the 2019 ID cards now we know which coins to include and these will be available on the website shortly 🙂
its about time we had music legends on good size round coins as i am sick of the so called 50p shape showing beautiful coins ruined by the 50p shape the round coins i agree wholehearted with mike bentley’s comment not forgetting small faces i played with a lot of top bands and session work before i joined the forces.apart from coin collecting my other hobby is cosmology and what a lot of people do not know that brian may has a doctorate in cosmology as well as one of the worlds best musicians i knew brian may only for short time we met at the the late great patrick moore house in surrey where he had a great telescopes really great doe’s he laid on, fantastic memories thank god for queens ROUND great coins thanks to brian and roger great minds think alike
I’ve just received my £5 Queen coin today
It’s amazing!
We’re so pleased you like the coin as much as we do! 🙂
Eagerly waiting to see which of the 3 limited edition bu coins is the most popular?! I got all 3 anyway, well whole set actually, but curious about the use of 4 different covers for the bu coin? Has this happened before?
Pink Floyd? Surely the DSOTM album cover would be perfect on a coin!
I hope the following iconic UK Bands will be featured in the future series ….
Led Zeppelin, Yes, Black Sabbath, ELP, The Beatles, The Who, Genesis etc
The Roger Dean YES logo would look stunning on a coin.
Any more suggestions from any one?
Hi Mike, these are all great iconic UK bands! We’re really excited to find out who else will feature in the series! 🙂
its about time we had music legends on good size round coins as i am sick of the so called 50p shape showing beautiful coins ruined by the 50p shape the round coins i agree wholehearted with mike bentley’s comment not forgetting small faces i played with a lot of top bands and session work before i joined the forces.apart from coin collecting my other hobby is cosmology and what a lot of people do not know that brian may has a doctorate in cosmology as well as one of the worlds best musicians i knew brian may we met at the the late great patrick moore house in surrey where he had a great telescopes really great doe’s he laid on, fantastic memories thank god for queens ROUND great coins thanks to brian and roger great minds think alike
Hello, I have placed an order and given my payment details. When will I receive a confirmatory e-mail, have the payment debited from my account and finally(!), when are the coins dispatched?
Hi Rozanna, please contact our customer service department who will be able to help you further 🙂 > https://www.westminstercollection.com/help
When will it be Published?
Hi there, the coins were released this morning at 9am! 🙂
Absolutely fabulous. There could not have been a more suitable music subject to go on a collectable coin. Thus enabling Queen to live on forever!!! Thank-you.
Hi Barry,
It’s great to hear you love the coin! We love it too! 🙂
Great – others in the series?;- Cream, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix (honorary Brit?), Motorhead, etc, etc…………. get the picture??
Hi Mervyn, those are some great music legends! We can’t wait to find out who else will feature in this series! 🙂
The coin looks good but at almost £14.00 for a £5.00 coin it is far too expensive.
Hi Ethalleo,
It’s great to hear you like the design of the coin!
This coin comes in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, which means it will have been specially struck by The Royal Mint to be free of scratches and marks. It also comes protectively encapsulated to preserve its quality.
This is the cheapest way to own this coin in this quality, at just £10.99 (+p&p).
Hello checkers,
Loving this new coin!!! Coin themes have so much scope and my favourite band made first place in this series. Time is giving Queen their rightful status within our distinguished music history. Well done designers and love the nod to BR on the piano keys! Next band? – Jagger has to feature so will go with the Rolling Stones ?
Hi Jane,
We’re so pleased you love the design as much as we do! It really is such a fitting tribute to one of the UK’s most iconic bands! We’re so excited for the rest of the Music Legends series to be announced!
Is it in silver proof?
Hi Dave,
Yes this coin is available in silver proof. Please feel free to browse the Queen £5 range: https://www.westminstercollection.com/landing-pages/queen-homepage-range.aspx 🙂