The Royal Mint, the British mint, today presented a series of commemorative coins minted to commemorate the memory of George Michael, complete with an iconic image of the singer and his teardrop glasses in relief on the front.
George Michael Entertainment said it was “deeply honoured” and grateful for the tribute, which comes just over 7 years after the death of the pop star: born in Goring-on-Thames on 25 June 1963 into a Greek family, raised in Hertfordshire Englishman and died in London on Christmas Day 2016. As well as a couple of months after the return to number one in the UK charts – 39 years after its release – the Christmas single Last Christmas, a hit made with the band Wham! before George Michael’s subsequent solo career.
The design was created by Italian actress Sandra Deiana and portrays the pop star with her unmistakable aviator glasses, a cross earring and leather jacket. In the background a recording of the notes of Faith’s chorus. “I wanted a detailed portrait capable of capturing her charismatic expression, I thought in particular of her iconic glasses,” Deiana explained in an official statement. George Michael has sold over one hundred million records and won two Grammy Awards. The coin honoring him is a rare, but not unique event in remembering legends of British pop and rock music. Homage reserved, before him, to Queen (after the death of frontman Freddie Mercury), to David Bowie or, again, to a living artist like Sir Elton John.
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