The Royal Mint’s successful Music Legends series sees its thirteenth release today. Starting in 2020, this showcases British music talent, and features some of the biggest names in music history. You can see all the designs to date in our Thematic Guide to Modern Music on coins, and even the few of them that made the jump to bullion, although that format did not continue for long.

Pink Floyd were formed in London in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals) and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals), with David Gilmour (guitar, vocals) joining two years later. They quickly garnered a reputation for experimental compositions, often lengthy, and quite unlike anything else out there, including their live concerts. Winning a cabinet full of awards, they went on to sell over 250 million albums, releasing their last single in 2022, “Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” in protest of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Their most popular studio albums were The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979).

The coin is unusual in this series in focusing more on a single album, in this case the legendary ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, rather than on the artists themselves, as is more usual. The reproduction of the covers prism and light obviously works best in colour, but its so iconic it looks just as recognisable without. Henry Gray, who also did the Freddie Mercury design, has done a fine job with Pink Floyd.

The range is unchanged, with four gold coins ranging from two ounces, to just 0.8 grams, and silver in one, two, five and ten ounce weights. There are base metal variants available in coloured (on sale exclusively at the mint), and cleanly struck variants. The coins are available to buy this morning, and if you want to buy, please click the banner below, as we get a small, much-needed commission at no cost to you. The series has been successful in the past with some terrific designs amongst them, and on this evidence, we suspect it will continue to be so.

PRESS RELEASE: Rock and roll history is set to be immortalised as The Royal Mint unveils a UK coin to celebrate one of the greatest showmen of all time, Freddie Mercury – an extraordinary tribute to the rock icon whose voice and showmanship 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 design elements.

Freddie’s 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. A selection of the coins will also 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.

This celebration comes at a particularly poignant time, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Queen’s show-stealing performance at Live Aid in July 1985 and also the 40th anniversary of Freddie’s first solo studio album, “Mr. Bad Guy”, released the same year, reminding fans of his versatility as both a Queen member and solo artist who pushed creative boundaries throughout his career. 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, making her an integral part of this historic tribute to her brother’s legacy.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: “Having Kashmira visit us to strike the first Freddie Mercury coin was incredibly moving and made this project even more special. Freddie Mercury wasn’t just a musician; he was a force of nature who transformed every stage he stepped onto. This coin captures that electric energy and celebrates a truly global icon whose influence continues to inspire generations. The level of detail in this design, from his signature to the musical stave representing his incredible vocal range, makes this one of our most special commemorative pieces.”

Kashmira Bulsara, Freddie Mercury’s sister, commented: “Striking the first coin at The Royal Mint was such an emotional and proud moment for me. 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.” Kashmira added, “He always had such respect for British traditions and institutions, and to have The Royal Mint celebrate his legacy with such beautiful artistry would have meant the world to him. The coin perfectly captures his passion and the joy he brought to millions through his music.”