Elvis Presley is rightly called the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  He is credited with 54 certified gold singles – more than any other recording artist ever!  This coin highlights one of those songs that sold at least 500,000 copies. 

The Franklin Mint has permanently bonded a vibrant image of Elvis to this uncirculated US Half Dollar.  The coin features an original photograph of Presley from his estate’s official archives and is officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Heartbreak Hotel

Elvis was a local hit in Memphis, and a few of his singles had made the country charts before he made his first RCA recording on January 10, 1956.  Chet Atkins, who already had a solid reputation in Nashville, joined Elvis and Scotty Moore on guitar.  Legendary musician Floyd Cramer played the piano.  A popular gospel quartet, “The Jordanaires,” was brought into the studio to sing backup.  (Another neat fact – “Heartbreak Hotel” co-writer Mae Axton was the mother of country legend Hoyt Axton.)  The session began in the afternoon and continued through the night.  By sunrise, Elvis was on his way to his first national hit single with “Heartbreak Hotel.”

The song was released on January 28.  Over 300,000 copies were sold in the first three weeks.  It entered the Billboard pop and Country and Western charts in mid-February.  It wasn’t long before the song was number one on both charts.  By April of that year, “Heartbreak Hotel” was a million-seller, leading to Presley’s first certified gold record.