John Lennon is being honored in a specifically minted British coin assortment to mark the yr the Beatles nice and peace advocate would have turned 85, the Royal Mint mentioned Friday.
The coin, which can go on sale on Monday, encompasses a portrait of Lennon that’s based mostly on a well-known picture taken by music trade photographer Bob Gruen in 1974.
It depicts a facet profile of Lennon, taken on the roof of his penthouse in New York.
Lennon was shot lifeless by Mark David Chapman within the metropolis on Dec. 8, 1980 on the age of 40.
Lennon’s title seems to the left of the portrait, whereas the phrase “Imagine” options on the best facet of the design in a reference to his single and album, launched in 1971, the yr after the Fab 4 — Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — successfully went their very own manner, having left their indelible mark on the coronary heart of the Nineteen Sixties.
“Arguably one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time, Lennon’s achievements as an artist, activist and advocate for peace continue to live on and will now be forever remembered on a coin,” mentioned Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin on the Royal Mint.
The Royal Mint, which has struck the cash of monarchs from Alfred the Nice within the ninth century by to King Charles III, has an ongoing “music legends” coin collection, celebrating singers and songwriters.
Lennon follows the likes of McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, the Rolling Stones and Shirley Bassey in being honored on a Royal Mint coin.
Lennon followers and coin collectors will have the ability to purchase the cash from the Royal Mint’s web site from Monday.
They are going to be obtainable in a spread of valuable metals, together with gold, in addition to totally different colours.
Costs will begin at 18.50 kilos ($24) for a five-pound denominated coin as much as 6,420 kilos ($8,330) for a 200-pound denominated coin.
Although authorized tender, however with the worth differential, it’s unlikely — if not irrational — for anybody to make use of the coin to purchase, say, “The White Album.”
