LONDON — John Lennon is being honored in a specifically minted British coin assortment to mark the 12 months the Beatles nice and peace advocate would have turned 85, the Royal Mint stated final week.
The coin, which is able to go on sale on Monday, includes 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 aspect profile of Lennon, taken on the roof of his penthouse in New York. Lennon was shot useless by Mark David Chapman within the metropolis on Dec. 8, 1980 on the age of 40.
Lennon’s identify seems to the left of the portrait, whereas the phrase “Imagine” options on the correct aspect of the design in a reference to his single and album, launched in 1971, the 12 months 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 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,” stated 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 via to King Charles III, has an ongoing “music legends” coin sequence, 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 should buy the cash from the Royal Mint’s web site.
