The Royal Mint has added George Michael to its Music Legends series, producing three collectible coins featuring the late pop star.

Available in gold, silver, and silver, red and black, the coin shows Michael wearing the aviator sunglasses and cross-shaped earring from the video for his 1987 solo single Faith, along with a guitar fretboard. The back features an engraving of the song’s refrain.

The Royal Mint said the coin had been approved by Michael’s estate. A representative from George Michael Entertainment said it was “deeply honoured” by the tribute, and added that the singer – who died in 2016, aged 53 – would have been “enormously proud and genuinely touched that a national institution should have decided to pay tribute to his memory in this way”.

King Charles and the privy council also gave assent to the production of the coins, which come in denominations of 50p, £2, £10, £25, £100 and £200. Other new coins outside the Music Legends series honour James Bond, Star Wars and Robin Hood.

Royal Mint director of collector services, Rebecca Morgan, said: “From his debut with Wham! to becoming one of the bestselling solo musicians of all time, George Michael is a global superstar whose work has inspired and influenced generations with his music and his unique style. Loved by millions of fans worldwide, we are delighted to be introducing an official UK coin celebrating his life and legacy.”

The coin was designed by Sandra Deiana, who said she wanted “a detailed portrait of George Michael that captured his piercing gaze and charismatic expression”.

Michael joins the Police, Dame Shirley Bassey – the only female musician to be commemorated on a coin – the Rolling Stones, the Who, Elton John, Queen and David Bowie in the Music Legends series.

The coin is the latest posthumous honour for Michael: in December 2023, Wham!’s 1984 single Last Christmas finally reached the UK Christmas No 1 spot after 39 years, breaking the record for the longest path to No 1. In June, Netflix released the documentary Wham!, which covered Michael’s early years in pop alongside Andrew Ridgeley, beginning in 1981, before he went solo in 1987.

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