LONDON — To commemorate the year in which the legendary musician and peace proponent John Lennon would have reached the age of 85, a unique British coin collection is being released, the Royal Mint announced on Friday.
The coin, which will be available for purchase starting on Monday, features a portrait of Lennon inspired by an iconic photograph captured by music industry photographer Bob Gruen back in 1974.
The image showcases a side profile of Lennon as he stood on the rooftop of his penthouse in New York City. Tragically, Lennon was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman in the same city on December 8, 1980, when Lennon was just 40 years old.
On the left side of the portrait, Lennon’s name is engraved, while the word “Imagine” graces the right side of the design, alluding to one of his most renowned singles and the album both released in 1971. This followed the breakup of The Beatles, comprised of Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, who had left an indelible imprint on the landscape of the 1960s.
Rebecca Morgan, the director of the commemorative coin division at the Royal Mint, stated, “Lennon undoubtedly ranks as one of the greatest singers and songwriters in history. His contributions as an artist, activist, and peace advocate remain influential and are now memorialized on a coin.”
The Royal Mint, renowned for minting coins for monarchs from Alfred the Great in the ninth century to King Charles III, is continuing its “music legends” coin series, which celebrates notable singers and songwriters. Lennon joins an illustrious group of artists previously honored, including McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, the Rolling Stones, and Shirley Bassey.
Both admirers of Lennon and coin collectors will be able to acquire these coins from the Royal Mint’s website starting Monday. The coins will be available in various precious metals, such as gold, and in different color variants.
Pricing for these commemorative pieces will start at 18.50 pounds ($24) for a coin with a five-pound face value and extend up to 6,420 pounds ($8,330) for a 200-pound face value coin.
Even though the coins qualify as legal tender, due to their pricing, it is rather improbable — if not completely impractical — that anyone would use one to make purchases such as acquiring a copy of “The White Album.”
