Still rockin’ after sixty years, the legendary Rolling Stones are celebrated on the Royal Mints new proof coin range

One thing you can’t accuse Britain of is being short of musical legends, so you can’t criticise the Royal Mint for issuing a series of coins simply called ‘Music Legends’. The choice of subjects seems endless, and to date, we’ve had Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Who. The fifth in the series debuts today, and features one of the biggest names of all – The Rolling Stones.

Formed in 1962, with songs written mainly by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it wasn’t long before they hit the big time, and by the end of the 60s, were already giants in the industry. This continued into the 70s, with eight consecutive number one albums in the US, and hits in many other countries. Their tours were legendary, and by 2007, they had four of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time. In total, they have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations, and in 2020, became the first band to top the chart across six different decades. They still tour today, so successfully that in 2021, they were the highest earning live act.

Despite the glitz of the subject, this has been an elegant, understated series, and the latest coin is no different. Simply depicting the band on stage in silhouette form, in front of an adoring audience, and with their name in the background, it completely encapsulates the excitement The Rolling Stones generate at their gigs. The mix of proof and textured areas appears to work well, although we haven’t seen any real-world images yet. It certainly looks promising. It’s a little odd the band’s iconic lips logo isn’t on there, but that may be a licencing thing, given the Crown Mint also has coins in their range which focus on that specifically.

The range of formats is extensive, with three silver weights (the smallest coming with a coloured name), and five gold, topping out with a £76k+ one-kilo gold. All are boxed, with a Certificate of Authenticity, and a themed shipper. For those on a budget, or are just casual fans, there’s a base-metal, brilliant uncirculated variant with an unlimited mintage, for £14.50, although the Royal Mint is directly selling the same thing with the coloured logo for an extra £9, and that one has a mintage limit of 20,000 pieces. All are available to buy from 9am UK time. Please use the mint banner ad lower down if you’re going to buy, as we get a little bonus and it costs you not a penny. Hopefully, we’ll see bullion versions soon.

PRESS RELEASE

The Royal Mint, the official maker of UK coins, has today launched a new collectable coin celebrating the iconic British rock and roll band – The Rolling Stones.

The Rolling Stones collectable coin is the fifth in The Royal Mint’s ‘Music Legends’ series, which celebrates legendary British artists through original new designs. This latest coin follows designs in honour of music icons Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Who and has become one of The Royal Mint’s most popular global coin collections.

Designed by Hannah Phizacklea, the coin brings together elements of The Stones’ instruments, stage presence, heritage and fashion to celebrate the global impact of their music. The bespoke coin captures the band in their element, mid-performance, via a silhouette illustration designed to reflect the energy and excitement of attending their gigs.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, said: “Our Music Legends series is creating a new generation of coin collectors, and we are delighted to honour The Rolling Stones’ musical achievements with this new collectable coin. We hope this provides a fitting tribute to the band’s sixty years of rock and roll music for their millions of fans across the globe. With a list of hits that includes eight UK number one singles, thirteen UK number one albums, and countless hits internationally, The Rolling Stones are UK rock legends, and we anticipate this coin being incredibly sought-after by coin collectors and music lovers alike”

“The coin is also one of the last to be released bearing the effigy of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, marking a significant moment in history.”

The band said, “We are delighted to be honoured by way of an official UK coin. Even more significant that the release coincides with our 60th anniversary”.

Since forming in 1962, The Rolling Stones have wowed fans around the world with their timeless hits, classic albums and iconic performances. A legendary act with cross-generational appeal, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest-selling acts in British music history and are hailed by many as ‘The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World’.