Coin
25 Pounds - Charles III Dame Shirley Bassey; Gold (2023) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 2023 • KM# 2531
Overview
A 2023 gold proof 25 Pounds coin from the United Kingdom, issued as part of the Music Legends series to honor Dame Shirley Bassey. The obverse features the uncrowned portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings, while the reverse displays a silhouette of the singer with titles of her legendary James Bond theme songs, designed by Sue Aperghis. Struck in .9999 fine gold, the coin has a very limited mintage of 120 pieces. Struck as Proof.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 2023
- Composition
- Gold (.9999)
- Weight
- 7.8 g
- Diameter
- 22 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 2531
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Uncrowned portrait of King Charles III left, legend around. Script: Latin Lettering: CHARLES III·D·G·REX·F·D·25 POUNDS·2023 · MJ Unabridged legend: Charles III Dei Gratia Rex Fidei Defensor Translation: Charles III by the Grace of God King Defender of the Faith Designer: Martin Jennings
Reverse
Silhouette of Dame Shirley Bassey, legend around Script: Latin Lettering: DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY MOONRAKER GOLDFINGER DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER SA Designer: Sue Aperghis
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Martin Jennings, Sue Aperghis is credited as the designer for the Non-circulating coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 120 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Gold issue: Gold (.9999) — bullion demand competes with numismatic demand. Weight and fineness (not just face value) drive the melt-value floor.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 2531. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
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