Royal Mint Honors Freddie Mercury with New Coin for Live Aid's 40th Anniversary
The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, has just unveiled the latest addition to its Music Legends series: a commemorative coin dedicated to the iconic Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. The special release coincides with the 40th anniversary of the band’s legendary 1985 Live Aid performance, which many hail as the greatest live concert of all time.
The coin’s design captures Mercury in his classic mid-performance pose, head back with the microphone stand, and features his distinctive signature. The artistry pays tribute to his powerful presence and extraordinary four-octave voice, symbolizing his vocal range with a musical stave that encircles the coin from bass to treble notes. Adding a nod to his unforgettable style, the edge of the coin is etched with a studded armband, reminiscent of his famous outfit from the Live Aid concert. Certain collector editions also include color, highlighting the singer’s iconic yellow jacket.
To mark the occasion, the singer’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, visited the Mint to personally strike the inaugural coin. She expressed deep pride in the tribute, noting that her brother's family was involved in its creation. Ms. Bulsara shared that having the Royal Mint—an institution her brother respected—honor him in this manner would have been profoundly meaningful.
"Striking the first coin at The Royal Mint was such an emotional and proud moment for me," she said. "As Freddie died young, he didn’t get the chance of being awarded a royal medal for his talents in the music world. So to have a royal coin this way is wonderful and very fitting." She concluded that the piece perfectly reflects his energy, saying, "The coin perfectly captures his passion and the joy he brought to millions through his music."
Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946, was known for hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “Don't Stop Me Now.” His charismatic stage presence defined Queen’s success, culminating in their unforgettable 21-minute set at Live Aid. Event organizer Bob Geldof later said the band "understood the idea exactly, that it was a global jukebox. They just went and smashed one hit after another."
In a fitting continuation of his philanthropic spirit, the Royal Mint will donate a special gold proof version of the coin to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the Aids charity founded in his memory. The charity plans to auction the unique piece to raise funds, advancing the mission to support those affected by HIV and Aids.
The Freddie Mercury coins are now available for purchase from The Royal Mint website as of Tuesday, November 18th. Prices for the collectable start at £18.50 for an uncirculated £5 denomination coin, joining other musical greats like David Bowie and Paul McCartney in the series.
