LONDON: John Lennon is being honoured in a specially minted British coin collection to mark the year the Beatles great and peace advocate would have turned 85, the Royal Mint said Friday.
The coin, which will go on sale on Monday, features a portrait of Lennon that is based on a famous image taken by music industry photographer Bob Gruen in 1974. It depicts a side profile of Lennon, taken on the roof of his penthouse in New York. Lennon was shot dead by Mark David Chapman in the city on Dec 8, 1980 at the age of 40.
Lennon’s name appears to the left of the portrait, while the word “Imagine” features on the right side of the design in a reference to his single and album, released in 1971.
The Royal Mint, which has struck the coins of monarchs from Alfred the Great to King Charles III, has an ongoing “music legends” series, celebrating singers and songwriters. Lennon follows the likes of McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, the Rolling Stones and Shirley Bassey in being honoured on a Royal Mint coin. Prices will start at $24 for a five-pound denominated coin up to $8,330 for a 200-pound denominated coin.
