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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Vicky Shaw

Spice up your wallet: Royal Mint marks 30 years of Spice Girls with commemorative coins

The Spice Girls, the iconic group that championed "girl power" and dominated the 1990s music scene, are now being immortalised on official coins by the Royal Mint. This special release commemorates 30 years since their groundbreaking debut with the single “Wannabe” and the album Spice.

Designed by artist Ffion Rees, the collectable £5 denomination coins feature all five band members – Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Geri Halliwell-Horner (Ginger Spice), and Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) – in silhouette, complete with their autographs. The design aims to evoke 1990s fandom and nostalgia.

Following 'Wannabe', the group delivered a string of chart-topping hits including “2 Become 1”, “Mama”, “Who Do You Think You Are”, “Spice Up Your Life”, and “Viva Forever”. Their cultural impact extended beyond music, notably with their 1997 feature film, Spice World.

In a first for the Royal Mint’s "music legends" collection, fans can choose packaging dedicated to their favourite Spice Girl. Five distinct designs are available for the brilliant uncirculated colour versions of the coins, each strictly limited to 15,000 worldwide. The Mint collaborated closely with the band and Bravado, Universal Music Group’s merchandise division, to curate the design.

A collectable £5 Spice Girls coin is unveiled by The Royal Mint to mark 30 years since the debut of the band's single (Ben Birchall/PA Media Assignments)

Lucy Mackenzie, director of digital and product concept at the Royal Mint, stated: "The Spice Girls didn’t just dominate pop music, they defined the 90s. Now, for the first time, fans and collectors everywhere can own a piece of that legacy.

The unique packaging celebrating each Spice Girl makes it one of our most collectable music legends releases. Girl Power is back. We’re anticipating huge demand from devoted fans and collectors from across the world looking to spice up their coin collection or add to their existing collection of merchandise."

The band expressed their honour, saying: "It’s a huge honour for us to be celebrated by the Royal Mint and follow in the footsteps of some true music icons. 2026 marks a special year for us as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our debut single and album. We could never have imagined that we would be recognised in this way – the first female group to be given their very own coin… what a moment for girl power."

The Spice Girls join a prestigious list of artists featured in the Royal Mint’s music legends series, including Freddie Mercury, Sir Elton John, David Bowie, George Michael, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Sir Paul McCartney.

The coins mark 30 years since the debut of the band's single, 'Wannabe', and the release of their first album, 'Spice', featuring a design by artist Ffion Rees (Ben Birchall/PA Media Assignments)

The collection launches on the Royal Mint’s website from 9am on March 3. Prices begin at £18.50 for a brilliant uncirculated coin and £29.50 for a colour version. Gold and silver editions are also available, with a 2oz gold proof coin priced at £10,535.

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