Dame Shirley Bassey became the first solo artist honored in the Royal Mint's music legends series, a program that had previously featured bands — Queen, The Who, David Bowie. Born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, she remains one of the few performers to have recorded three James Bond themes, a record no other artist holds.
The issue coincided with her 86th year, making it among the more unusually timed tributes in the series — most such coins arrive posthumously or at round-number anniversaries.
Dame Shirley Bassey became the first solo artist honored in the Royal Mint's music legends series, a program that had previously featured bands — Queen, The Who, David Bowie. Born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, she remains one of the few performers to have recorded three James Bond themes, a record no other artist holds.
The issue coincided with her 86th year, making it among the more unusually timed tributes in the series — most such coins arrive posthumously or at round-number anniversaries.