David Bowie coin: how much is the Royal Mint’s Music Legends collection coin - and why was one sent to space?

David Bowie is the latest star to be featured in a new coin series by the Royal Mint, as part of its “music legends” collection

One of the coins celebrating the Life On Mars singer was launched into space and is now being offered as a prize via the Royal Mint’s Facebook page

Win a space travelling coin

The David Bowie coin is the third in the Mint’s Music Legends collection and celebrates the artist's incredible musical legacy.

Fans can also buy coins from the Bowie collection from the Royal Mint’s website

Five days before the launch of Apollo 11, Bowie released his iconic hit song Space Oddity and has released a number of other space influenced songs over his career, including Starman and Ziggy Stardust.

In honour of the ‘Starman’, one of the coins in the collection was sent into space and orbited the Earth’s atmosphere for 45 minutes, reaching 35,656m, before safely descending.

Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential performers of the 20th century, known for his chameleon-like performances and costumes throughout his career. The singer died in 2016.

Space Oddity was his first top five single in the UK charts, before bringing the iconic Ziggy Stardust character to stages around the UK. The song was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey, and follows the journey of fictional astronaut Major Tom on his journey into the cosmos.

The coin will now be offered as a prize to one lucky winner, who will be selected at random. eventually selected at random. The Mint said it will share details through its social media channels.

Where can I buy the coins?

Fans can also buy coins from the Bowie collection from the Royal Mint’s website.

Prices range from £13 for a brilliant uncirculated £5 coin, to a more “out of this world” £72,195 for a UK kilo gold coin in a denomination of £1,000. A maximum of 11 of the £72,195 gold coins will be minted.

A five ounce Bowie gold coin is also available for £11,815, in a maximum mintage of 60 coins.

The latest coin celebrates Bowie with a design inspired by an image from his time spent living and recording in Berlin, and includes the lightning bolt motif from Aladdin Sane.

The lightning bolt that features on several of the special edition coins appears laced with stardust to create a glitter effect, which was designed using innovative technology and manufacturing techniques.

Other artists celebrated in the Music Legends collection are Sir Elton John and rock group Queen.

Divisional director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, Clare Maclennan, said: “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.”