Sir Elton John has described a new coin celebrating his legacy as a “fabulous honour”.

The Royal Mint will be selling coins engraved with Sir Elton’s distinctive glasses and a straw boater hat to commemorate his music career, which spans more than half a century.

Artist Bradley Morgan Johnson used a musical note design to create round-rimmed glasses topped with a hat and bow tie, featuring a Union Jack flag background.

The collectors’ coins will be sold for up to nearly £65,000, while a one-off version will be auctioned to raise money for the Elton John Charitable Trust.

The Royal Mint's Elton John 2020 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin
The Royal Mint’s Elton John 2020 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin (The Royal Mint/PA)

Commenting on the design, Sir Elton said: “It really is a fabulous honour to be recognised in this way.

“The last few years have contained some of the most memorable moments of my career, and this is another truly humbling milestone on my journey.”

The collection is the second of the Royal Mint’s Music Legends series, which celebrates long-standing British musicians.

Designs will be available for purchase in gold, silver, and highly collectable editions ranging from £13 for the “Rocket Man” coin, to £64,950 for heavier gold designs.

The high-end coins in this collection include designs showing a pulsating star pattern in the glasses’ lens, a piano-patterned edge, and a more three-dimensional finish.

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of commemorative coins and the Royal Mint Experience, said: “Elton John is without a doubt a British music legend and is recognised as one of the most successful singer-songwriters of his generation.

The Royal Mint's Elton John 2020 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin
The coin sits on the singer’s famous boots worn as part of his Pinball Wizard costume in the 1975 film Tommy (Casey Gutteridge/The Royal Mint/PA)

“We are delighted to honour Elton’s significant contribution to British music on a UK coin.”

In addition to the coin collection, Sir Elton is also working with the Royal Mint to create a special one-off collector’s piece, which will be auctioned for the Elton John Charitable Trust later this year.

The unique coin will help raise vital funds at a time when the wider charity sector has been hit with a reduction in donations.

Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading merchandise and brand management company, organised this collaboration.