The late singer won an online vote to determine which British luminary would be honored with a commemorative coin struck by the Royal Mint, beating out late author Jane Austen.
- October 30, 2010
AceShowbiz - A commemorative British coin honoring late The Beatles member John Lennon has gone on sale in the U.K., weeks after what would have been the legend's 70th birthday. On Friday, October 29, the "Imagine" hitmaker was announced winner of an online vote to determine which British luminary would be honored with a commemorative coin struck by the Royal Mint.
He beat out late author Jane Austen and late Scottish engineer John Logie Baird. Lennon's coin, which depicts him with long hair and sideburns and his trademark round glasses, will have a face value of GBP5 ($8) but will be sold for GBP44.99 pounds ($71.63). Only 5,000 will be sold.
The Royal Mint also plans to produce one single coin in 24 karat gold that will be given to the star's estate. A Royal Mint spokesperson says, "It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year. The massive proportion of the vote he received shows clearly just how much his untimely death still resonates with the nation. He ranks alongside, and even ahead of, some of the greatest names in history."
Lennon, who was murdered outside of his New York apartment in 1980, would have celebrated his 70th birthday on October 9.
