The Royal Mints popular Music Legends range continues today with the launch of the ninth in the series to date. A wide range of proof formats make up the series, in both gold and silver, with the signature coin being a humble one-ounce silver design, enhanced with colour. That remains the case with the latest issue, Paul McCartney.

To say McCartney is befitting the title ‘Music Legend’ would be something of an understatement. His first claim to fame, and it’s a biggie, is as a founder member of possibly the most beloved band in history, The Beatles. The band performed from 1960 to 1970, before an acrimonious break-up, with Paul going on to release a solo album, before forming the band Wings, with Denny Laine, and his first wife, Linda. Wings also enjoyed considerable success, with hits like Mull of Kintyre, before disbanding in 1981. He continues to record solo albums, the 18th of which debuted in December 2020 and is currently on tour. He remains a life-long eco/animal activist.

The design, by Osborne Ross, is a fine encapsulation of McCartney’s career, and contains many famous elements. His ‘Magic Piano’, the Hofner violin bass, the Wings logo, and his signature. It’s certainly the most colourful of the designs to date, but looks equally good in cleanly struck proof form, whether in silver or gold. One of the best in the series to date, in our opinion.

The range is wide, with four gold coins ranging from two ounces, to just 0.8 grams (8mm diameter!), and prices from under £100, to almost £6000. Silver comes in one, two, and five ounce weights, and there are base metal variants for the casual collector, also available in coloured, and cleanly struck variants. A terrific addition to one of the best music ranges in production today, and there are plenty of subjects still possible, like Amy Winehouse, for example. Check out our Thematic Guide for a look at the full range, and if you want to buy, please click the banner below, as we get a small, much-needed commission at no cost to you.

PRESS RELEASE: The Royal Mint has unveiled a coin collection honouring one of the most influential music artists and songwriters of all time, Paul McCartney. In a groundbreaking career which has seen Paul McCartney win countless awards and receive some of the world’s most prestigious honours – today marks a career first as The Royal Mint launches an official Paul McCartney coin.

The coin features Paul McCartney’s iconic Magic Piano as well as several references to his record-breaking career – including piano notes personally chosen by Paul, a Höfner Violin Bass guitar, and the Wings logo. The design was officially approved by Paul McCartney and marks the first time the iconic artist has appeared on an official UK coin. The £5 coin collection is available is a range of finishes, as well as coloured editions, which brings the Magic Piano to life for fans.

Paul McCartney is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time. As a member of both The Beatles and Wings, Paul McCartney became a rock ‘n’ roll superstar, but his continued work as a solo artist has cemented him as one of the greatest artists in history – selling over 100 million solo albums. Paul has just completed the South American leg of his acclaimed Got Back tour – which saw him play to over 500,000 people in eight countries. The tour has just started its European leg and will finish the year with home shows in Manchester and London later this month.

Inspired by Paul McCartney’s use of pennies as guitar picks in the early days, The Royal Mint has also created a special edition plectrum shaped version of the coin to gift to Paul. The one-off plectrum has been produced using sustainable gold, recovered from e-waste at The Royal Mint’s factory in South Wales.

Paul McCartney said, “This feels like a huge honour. It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid.”