Britain's Royal Mint has issued its first commemorative coin featuring a British rock group, in a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury and the three other band members of Queen. Mercury, born as Farrokh Balsara in Zanzibar was of Parsi origin, and his parents originated from India. He attended English-style boarding schools in India from the age of eight and returned to Zanzibar after secondary school. In 1964, his family fled the Zanzibar revolution moving to Middlesex, England. Having studied and written music for years, he formed Queen in 1970.
The coin, that was released on Monday, features the band's logo and instruments played by the Queen members: the Bechstein grand piano played by Freddie Mercury for Bohemian Rhapsody, May's Red Special guitar, Roger Taylor's Ludwig bass drum with an early-day Queen crest and John Deacon's Fender Precision Bass.
The coin's designer Chris Facey also paid tribute to Bohemian Rhapsody, the band's most celebrated hit, with the keys of the piano on the coin pressed down for the opening notes of the song, said Reuters.
The commemorative coin is available in gold and silver proof, with prices varying from £13 to £2,100.
