Queen are the first band to get their own official coin

21 January 2020, 10:55 | Updated: 5 October 2023, 11:30

Queen have become the first ever band to be celebrated on UK currency, a move which Brian May has described as an "honour".

Queen are the face of a new £5 coin, which is available to purchase now. The design is the first in the Royal Mint’s new ‘Music Legends’ collection.

The coin commemorates all four members of the band via the image of each member’s instrument.

The Bechstein grand piano – which the late Freddie Mercury played on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – features at the top of the coin.

The group’s famous logo is featured at the centre of the coin, and is completed by the late singer’s iconic mic stick.

Brian May’s ‘Red Special’ guitar – which he still plays to this day using an old sixpence – also appears alongside John Deacon’s Fender Precision Bass and Roger Taylor’s Ludwig bass drum, decorated with the Queen crest.

Queen guitarist May said: “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 recognised and our music celebrated in this way is very touching – a real honour.”

Roger Taylor added: “Marvellous, all this fuss over our band. I feel entirely spent.”

The coins are priced at £13 for an uncirculated coin, but up to £2,100 for a gold proof coin. You can purchase them here.

Meanwhile, Queen will soon perform at a benefit concert for Australian bushfire relief at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, alongside Alice Cooper, kd lang, Olivia Newton-John and others.