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THE CENTRAL BANK has launched a commemorative coin in honour of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott.
The 2019 coin, marking would have been the 70th birthday of the legendary Dublin guitarist, was launched by President Michael D Higgins at Lynott’s former school St Kevin’s College, in Crumlin.
The school band played a medley of Thin Lizzy songs before President Higgins spoke of Lynott’s contribution to Irish music and culture, saying: “Phil Lynott is not likely to be forgotten.”
President Higgins spoke of the importance of creativity and the arts and encouraged students to allow their creativity to move them.
In the crowd were Lynott’s daughters Sarah and Kathleen.
Phil Lynott was born in the West Midlands, England but grew up in Dublin. After fronting several bands, Lynott formed Thin Lizzy in 1970.
The band first found success with Whiskey In The Jar, followed by several hits in the mid-70s with songs such as The Boys Are Back In Town, Jailbreak, The Rocker and Waiting For An Alibi.
Lynott also enjoyed success as a solo artist with two albums producing the hits Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, King’s Call and Old Town, the music video for the latter showing him walking through the streets of Dublin.
He died of pneumonia and heart failure linked to his ongoing battle with drug and alcohol abuse in January 1986. He was 36.
The coin was designed by numismatic artist Sandra Deiana and pays tribute to Lynott with a depiction of the frontman in a characteristic pose with his bass guitar.
It is the second coin issued in the three coin series entitled Modern Irish Musicians.
A coin commemorating Rory Gallagher was launched in September 2018 by President Higgins, while next year, a coin commemorating Luke Kelly will be issued.
Central Bank deputy governor Sharon Donnery, who grew up in Crumlin, said the organisation was proud to be issuing the coin to celebrate the musician.
“We are particularly pleased to be launching it in Crumlin: Phil Lynott grew up on Leighlin Road and went to school here at St Kevin’s College,” she said.
Phil Lynott’s iconic status, his contribution to modern Irish music and the enduring popularity of his music is why the Bank has issued a coin honouring him.
The €15 silver proof coins are limited to 3,000 pieces, and will be available to buy tomorrow at 10am for €65.
Proof coins are collectable coins and are not intended for general circulation. They are minted using specially polished dies and blanks that give them a mirror-like finish.
Last month, two one euro stamps, one featuring a portrait of Lynott, and the other showing the cover of his band Thin Lizzy’s Black Rose album, also went on sale in Ireland.
The pair of stamps were launched to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Thin Lizzy have been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the United States next year.
Lynott’s mother, Philomena, a Crumlin native, died in June this year.
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A €15 coin you can buy for €65
@Shirley: yeay capitalism
@Shirley: 1oz of silver is about 13 euros and to buy a silver coin that is 99.99 pure silver and an oz in weight is about 20 to 25 euros. Price can be effected by rarity.
@Shirley: Sorry Silver is 15 now not 13… But as an example???
https://www.bullionbypost.ie/silver-coins/austrian-philharmonic/2019-1oz-austrian-philharmonic-silver-coin/
How come we celebrate drug addicts and alcoholics who died young through addictions usually on these coibs – which I think is a nice thing to do – yet we can’t seem to agree on the need or location of injections centres and treatment services to help people exactly like those we celebrate on coins?
Odd country this.
@Perlum Sprite: because, despite addiction, he was a rock icon all over the world.
@Perlum Sprite: I wouldn’t want an injection centre near me. Bringing a lot of trouble into one place does not strike me as a good thing.
@Perlum Sprite: enjoy your Bono coin.
@Perlum Sprite:
Coz there’s no votes in it. At least not until a senior politician has a close relative who develops an opiate addiction.
@Perlum Sprite: if he lived I doubt he would have nearly as much attention as he has been given over the years.
@Perlum Sprite: I think he was a rock legend, songwriter and a genius of his time.
I see little or nothing of drugs.
Well researched as always. Phill was not a guitarist he played the bass guitar, sure that’s what he is holding in the picture.
@Paul Flood: Contradict yourself much?
@Ananya Sharma: Youndomt know the difference either. That’s a shame.
@Paul Flood: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarist
Perhaps your own definition is too narrow.
The article does reference the fact he was a bass guitarist.
@Tricia G: Phil was a bassist but also played guitar,in my book that makes him a guitarist.
A junkie plain and simple, with a bit of talent
@Eamonn Atyea: Enough about your mom,what was your dad like?
@Eamonn Atyea: Cop on. He put Irish Rock music on the map. Get back under your rock there will ya.
@Jimmy Bolton: lol he did in his hole
@Ananya Sharma: ask your sister
@Eamonn Atyea: more talent than you’ve got brain cells.
@Daryl: He was what he was
@Eamonn Atyea: who did then??
Handy
It was the 70s apart Cliff Richard wasn’t into drugs
Just tried to buy this online, website is banjaxed. The Central Bank of Ireland which we all know is the ‘technology hub of Europe’ can’t even build a website that can handle a few e-commerce orders. Oh, hang on a minute, maybe the bank didn’t mint enough coins? Thin Lizzy sold millions of albums and have many many hundreds of thousands of fans with 65 euro to spend on a special keepsake, why only mint 3000?, well they’re all gone, sold out in an hour or so. Hint to Central Bank. Please mint the next batch in Gold with a production run of 10,000 and a face value of 1K euro. Maybe then I’ll have a chance to grab one.
Selling now for €500 on ebay
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