LONDON — Beatles legend Paul McCartney is being honored in a specially minted British coin collection.
The Royal Mint, which has struck the coins of monarchs from Alfred the Great in the 9th century through to King Charles III, revealed last Friday that it is launching a McCartney coin collection for collectors to buy.
On one side of the coin, as is custom, will be the king. On the other, it will be all about McCartney’s career in the wake of the Beatles split in 1970.
The Royal Mint said the range will come in a variety of finishes as well as colored editions. The most valuable one will be the 2-ounce gold proof coin, which will have a face value of 200 pounds ($255) but will go on sale at a recommended retail price of 5,890 pounds ($7,510).
Though legal tender but with the price differential, it’s unlikely — if not irrational — for anyone using the coins in everyday use to pay for, say, a McCartney concert.
Among other features, the coins feature McCartney’s iconic Magic Piano. a multicolored upright he first used in 1967 while still in arguably the greatest band of all with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. A replica was made for McCartney’s 1989/1990 world tour and has been used in subsequent tours.
There are other references too, including piano notes chosen by McCartney, his famous Höfner Violin Bass guitar, the logo of his post-Beatles band, Wings, as well as his signature.
“This feels like a huge honor,” McCartney said. “It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid.”
The Royal Mint also said it has created a special edition plectrum-shaped version of the coin to gift to the 82-year-old McCartney, who in his early days played with pennies as guitar picks.
The coins are part of the Royal Mint’s Music Legends collection, which also includes David Bowie, George Michael and the Rolling Stones.
“Our coins recognize the greatest icons and events in British history, so it’s fitting that Paul McCartney’s remarkable music career is now celebrated on an official U.K. coin,” said Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint.
“What makes this coin extra special is that Paul has been involved throughout the design process,” she added.
The Royal Mint also said it will auction a signed, gold edition of McCartney’s coin. The bespoke gold coin weighs five kilograms and took more than 250 hours to make, including three days of hand polishing. It was signed by McCartney during his 2024 “Got Back” tour in Paris and will be auctioned alongside four silver five-kilogram editions.
