Britain's Royal Mint has issued a commemorative coin with the face of John Lennon, the former Beatle who was killed 30 years ago.
Lennon, shown with sideburns and his trademark round glasses, adorns the face of a new £5 ($8 Cdn) coin issued Friday.
He got the honour in a competition to decide who would grace the special coin after a concerted campaign by Beatles fans.
Lennon beat author Jane Austen and historical figure Walter Raleigh in the Royal Mint's public poll for the next Great Briton to adorn a coin.
Lennon fans encouraged votes for the ex-Beatle on social networks and Facebook. He eventually got 92 per cent of the vote.
"It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year," said Dave Knight, director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint. "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 was shot outside his New York City apartment in 1980.
Only 5,000 of the coins will be issued and they will cost £44.99 ($73) despite having a face value of £5.
Source Courtesy of --- http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/10/29/lennon-coin.html
Lennon, shown with sideburns and his trademark round glasses, adorns the face of a new £5 ($8 Cdn) coin issued Friday.
He got the honour in a competition to decide who would grace the special coin after a concerted campaign by Beatles fans.
Lennon beat author Jane Austen and historical figure Walter Raleigh in the Royal Mint's public poll for the next Great Briton to adorn a coin.
Lennon fans encouraged votes for the ex-Beatle on social networks and Facebook. He eventually got 92 per cent of the vote.
"It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year," said Dave Knight, director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint. "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 was shot outside his New York City apartment in 1980.
Only 5,000 of the coins will be issued and they will cost £44.99 ($73) despite having a face value of £5.
Source Courtesy of --- http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/10/29/lennon-coin.html
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