LONDON has announced a special tribute to honor John Lennon, celebrating the iconic Beatles member and advocate for peace who would have celebrated his 85th birthday. The Royal Mint unveiled plans on Friday for a newly designed coin collection commemorating Lennon. These coins, which will be available to the public starting Monday, showcase a likeness of Lennon inspired by a notable photograph captured in 1974 by Bob Gruen, a renowned photographer in the music industry.
The design features Lennon’s side profile, an image taken atop the terrace of his New York penthouse apartment. Tragically, Lennon was fatally shot in the same city by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980, when he was just 40 years old. Alongside this depiction is Lennon’s name on the left and the word “Imagine” on the right, a nod to his iconic 1971 song and album. This release occurred shortly after the Beatles—comprising Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—had unofficially disbanded, leaving an indelible mark on the 1960s music scene.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, praised Lennon as “arguably one of the greatest singers and songwriters ever.” She noted that his artistic contributions, commitment to activism, and passion for peace remain influential and will be eternally commemorated in this commemorative coin release.
The Royal Mint boasts a celebrated history, minting coins starting from the time of Alfred the Great in the ninth century through to the current monarch, King Charles III. Their ongoing “music legends” coin series continues to pay homage to iconic musicians and composers, with previous honorees including McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, the Rolling Stones, and Shirley Bassey. Now, Lennon joins these illustrious names on a Royal Mint coin.
Fans of Lennon and collectors alike will have the opportunity to purchase these coins directly from the Royal Mint’s website starting on Monday. They will come in a variety of precious metals such as gold, with different color variations also available.
The pricing for the coins begins at 18.50 pounds (approximately $24) for a coin with a five-pound denomination, ranging up to 6,420 pounds (around $8,330) for a coin with a 200-pound denomination. Although these coins represent legal tender, their value exceeds their face worth so significantly that it would be impractical for anyone to use them for everyday purchases, such as buying a copy of “The White Album.”
