A Coin for the Queen of Soul

To honor soul music legend and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, the Perth Mint released a 1-ounce, .999-fine silver $1 proof coin for Tuvalu. The reverse, produced in black and white, depicts Franklin singing into a microphone and ARETHA! in a script font. The obverse features Jody Clark’s effigy of King Charles III. 

Franklin’s career spanned almost 6 decades and included 20 No. 1 hits. She earned numerous accolades, including 18 Grammy Awards, and Rolling Stone magazine twice named her the greatest singer of all time. Franklin also made history by being the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. She recorded 112 singles that charted in the United States, and her 1967 recording of Otis Redding’s “Respect” became one of her most iconic songs. 

Mintage is limited to 5,000. For more information and to purchase, visit the Perth Mint’s website.

A version of this article appears in the November 2024 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).