More than 60 years after the band formed in London, Pink Floyd is now being honoured on an official United Kingdom commemorative coin issued by The Royal Mint.
Released on May 14 as part of The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series, the coin celebrates the band’s enduring cultural legacy and features one of the most recognizable images in music history — the prism design from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.
Designed by Henry Gray, the reverse depicts the iconic prism and light spectrum motif associated with the legendary album cover. Select editions of the coin also incorporate colour printing to recreate the rainbow prism effect that became synonymous with the band’s visual identity.
The original album artwork was created by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis and illustrated by George Hardie. Since its release, The Dark Side of the Moon has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Pink Floyd was formed in 1965 by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright, with guitarist David Gilmour joining in 1968. The band became renowned for pushing musical boundaries through innovative recording techniques, philosophical lyrics and elaborate stage productions.
A string of landmark albums throughout the 1970s — including The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall — cemented the band’s reputation as one of rock music’s most influential acts. The group’s music continues to attract new generations of listeners decades after its commercial peak.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said Pink Floyd’s music and imagery have transcended generations.
“The iconic prism is instantly recognizable to fans around the world,” Morgan said. “Their influence on music, art and culture is immeasurable.”
The Pink Floyd coin joins previous Music Legends issues honouring performers such as David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Paul McCartney and Shirley Bassey. According to The Royal Mint, nearly 500,000 coins from the series have been acquired by collectors and music fans across 108 countries.
The commemorative issue is available in several formats, including Brilliant Uncirculated, silver Proof and gold Proof editions, with some versions featuring colour printing. Packaging for the release also incorporates imagery and themes connected to the band’s music and history.