by Deutsche Welle | February 27, 2024, 5:39 am
The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom on Monday introduced a new coin by the late British artist George Michael.
Pop singer, founder of the group Wham! He died with Andrew Ridgeley of natural causes at the age of 53 on December 25, 2016, leaving an important musical legacy.
The new coins, which were unveiled on February 26, 2024, show Michael's face with his signature sunglasses and black and red details that he used throughout his career.
The George Michael Entertainment Foundation noted that this honor for Michael is a “tremendous honor” and that the artist would have been “very proud and truly touched that a national institution has decided to honor his memory in this way.”
Last December, “Last Christmas” reached number one in the UK music charts, 39 years after it was first released.
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The coin's designer, Sandra Diana, explained to the BBC that she wanted “a detailed image that captures her attractive expressions,” which is why she thought “particularly” about her “famous sunglasses.”
The coin will be the latest addition to the Royal Mint's Music Legend series, which has also included other famous figures such as David Bowie, Elton John and Queen.
Michael, whose real name is Georgios Kyriakos Panayiotona, has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide throughout his career and was one of the most popular pop artists of the 1980s and 1990s, initially as part of the band Wham! Then alone.
