It’s official: Iron Maiden are now worth their weight in gold – or silver, or whatever your metal preference might be. The Royal Mint has struck a new blow for British rock heritage with the release of a commemorative coin honouring Iron Maiden’s golden anniversary, featuring none other than Eddie, the band’s long-serving skeletal mascot.
Released as part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing Music Legends series, which has previously paid tribute to Queen, David Bowie and Elton John, the Iron Maiden (£5) coin is something of a riff-heavy milestone.
It’s the first collectable to bear the band’s 50th anniversary logo, and arrives as a thunderous tribute to five decades of anthemic British metal.
Released as part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing Music Legends series, the Iron Maiden coin is something of a riff-heavy milestone…
The coin’s design has been masterminded by Albert ‘Akirant’ Quirantes, the contemporary Iron Maiden artist responsible for much of the band’s recent artwork. As well as capturing Eddie in a suitably dramatic pose, Quirantes has hidden numerous Easter eggs in the design, including a treasure map of references to the band’s albums, stage shows and globe-trotting escapades.
If your idea of a good night is analysing Powerslave cover art with a whisky in hand, this coin’s for you.
“Designing the Iron Maiden coin has been one of the most thrilling projects of my career,” says Akirant. “I’ve hidden several references within the design that true fans will enjoy discovering, including subtle nods to classic album artwork and their most beloved songs.”
The band themselves were hands-on with the design process, ensuring the coin hit all the right notes. “Having Eddie on an official UK coin is a continuation of his incredible odyssey since we unearthed him back in 1980,” says longtime band manager Rod Smallwood. “We’ve been on stamps, beer bottles, plane tails and now legal tender!”
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, put it succinctly: “This coin is the perfect fusion of metal on metal.”
Available in a range of editions, from affordable, brilliant uncirculated coins at £18.50, to a limited-edition gold proof, priced at £120, the Iron Maiden coin caters to collectors, fans, and metal historians alike. They come in presentation sleeves with bespoke Eddie artwork.
And yes, they’re officially legal tender – not that you’d want to risk dropping Eddie into a parking meter.
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It’s official: Iron Maiden are now worth their weight in gold – or silver, or whatever your metal preference might be. The Royal Mint has struck a new blow for British rock heritage with the release of a commemorative coin honouring Iron Maiden’s golden anniversary, featuring none other than Eddie, the band’s long-serving skeletal mascot.
Released as part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing Music Legends series, which has previously paid tribute to Queen, David Bowie and Elton John, the Iron Maiden (£5) coin is something of a riff-heavy milestone.
It’s the first collectable to bear the band’s 50th anniversary logo, and arrives as a thunderous tribute to five decades of anthemic British metal.
The coin’s design has been masterminded by Albert ‘Akirant’ Quirantes, the contemporary Iron Maiden artist responsible for much of the band’s recent artwork. As well as capturing Eddie in a suitably dramatic pose, Quirantes has hidden numerous Easter eggs in the design, including a treasure map of references to the band’s albums, stage shows and globe-trotting escapades.
If your idea of a good night is analysing Powerslave cover art with a whisky in hand, this coin’s for you.
“Designing the Iron Maiden coin has been one of the most thrilling projects of my career,” says Akirant. “I’ve hidden several references within the design that true fans will enjoy discovering, including subtle nods to classic album artwork and their most beloved songs.”
The band themselves were hands-on with the design process, ensuring the coin hit all the right notes. “Having Eddie on an official UK coin is a continuation of his incredible odyssey since we unearthed him back in 1980,” says longtime band manager Rod Smallwood. “We’ve been on stamps, beer bottles, plane tails and now legal tender!”
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, put it succinctly: “This coin is the perfect fusion of metal on metal.”
Available in a range of editions, from affordable, brilliant uncirculated coins at £18.50, to a limited-edition gold proof, priced at £120, the Iron Maiden coin caters to collectors, fans, and metal historians alike. They come in presentation sleeves with bespoke Eddie artwork.
And yes, they’re officially legal tender – not that you’d want to risk dropping Eddie into a parking meter.
To bank yours, head to the royal mint.
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