A fitting tribute to David Bowie, who gave us Space Oddity. A commemorative coin has been launched to space and back by the Royal Mint.

The coin was carried by a balloon to 35,656 metres altitude and back to Britain as part of the Royal Mint’s “Music Legends” collection.

The Royal Mint said a UK coin has not been launched into space before. Bowie fans have the opportunity to win this coin as a competition prize on the Royal Mint’s Facebook page.

A variety of versions in the David Bowie collection are being minted. They range in price from just £13 for an unlimited £5 coin up to £72,195 for a very limited £1,000 denomination, 1kg, gold-proof coin – only 11 have been struck.

The Bowie coins are the third in the Music Legends series, following coins in honour of Queen and Elton John. The design, featuring the lightning bolt motif from Aladdin Sane, was inspired by an image of Bowie from his time spent living and recording in Berlin. A glitter effect gives the bolt on a number of the coins the appearance of being laced with stardust.

The Divisonal Director of Commemorative Coins at the Royal Mint, Clare Maclennan commented: “We are thrilled to unveil the third coin in the Royal Mint’s Music Legends series, honouring the intergalactic legacy and career of David Bowie.

“In recognition of Bowie’s first hit single, Space Oddity, we felt it was fitting to send his coin into space and celebrate the Starman in his own pioneering fashion. David Bowie’s music has inspired and influenced generations of musicians and we hope this commemorative coin will be cherished by fans around the world.”

Space Oddity was released in the UK five days before the Apollo 11 launch in July 1969, and reached No 5 in the charts.

Original article source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/07/royal-mint-sends-david-bowie-coin-into-space-and-back

Original image source: https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/royal-mint-honour-david-bowie-with-new-coins-launch-one-into-space

×