United Kingdom. Gold and Silver Proof Coins Remember 85th Birthday of Music Legend John Lennon

The new coin celebrates John Lennon’s life and record-setting career as an artist. The release coincides with the year in which he would have celebrated his 85th birthday and marks the 45th anniversary of his death. Founder of the biggest act in music history and an incredible performer in his own right, John Lennon’s musical career transcended the music industry, his songs and image are timeless and his impact is undeniable. An activist who promoted civil rights and peace, his stance on world issues influenced a generation, leaving its mark on not only those around him but history itself, touching the lives of people around the world.

Born in Liverpool, England on the 9th October 1940, John Winston Lennon was the only child of Alfred Lennon, a merchant seaman and Julia Stanley. His John Winston was chosen after his paternal grandfather, also John and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. From the age of six, he was raised by his maternal aunt and uncle and during this time, he showed a great interest in all genres of music. It was in 1956 that Lennon acquired his first guitar and became involved in the skiffle craze – a mix of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, country, bluegrass and jazz. That same year, he formed a musical group called the Quarrymen which would eventually include Lennon and school friends, Paul McCartney who joined in early July 1957 and George Harrison in early 1958. It was in 1960 when the group changed their name to ‘The Beatles’ - chosen for its double meaning and as an appreciative nod to Buddy Holly's band ‘The Crickets’ and musical history was in the making. The Beatles remain widely regarded as the most influential band in Western popular music and were integral to the development of the 1960’s counter-culture movement. From their founding until their break-up in ten years later, the group became synonymous with popular music which would become recognised as an art form and genre in its own right.

After the break-up of the Beatles, Lennon pursued a career as a singing solo artist, performing the international top-10 singles ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and ‘Imagine’, a song which Lennon would ultimately be remembered for most. During the time while living in New York from 1973 to 1975, he produced Harry Nilsson's album Pussy Cats as well as co-authoring chart-topping collaborations with Elton John’s single Whatever Gets You thru the Night and David Bowie’s single Fame. As a performer, writer or co-writer, Lennon had an impressive 25 number-one singles in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Double Fantasy, his second-best-selling non-Beatles album and his last project before his death won the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. That same year, he won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music posthumously.

On the evening of the 8th December 1980, the 40 year old performer and his wife Yoko Ono were returning to his home in Manhattan after recording the final tracks for his soon-to-be released album entitled Double Fantasy. As they emerged from the limousine and walked through the archway of the building, a gunman shot Lennon twice in the back and twice in the shoulder at close range. Lennon was rushed in a police cruiser to the emergency room of Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Immediately broadcast as a special report on the news, the world was utterly shocked by the headlines of Lennon’s assassination. Thousands of fans gathered in front of the Dakota apartment building near Central Park where Lennon lived and began to sing many of his songs and holding lighted candles. John Lennon was survived by his wife Yoko and sons Julian and Sean. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in Central Park. In 1981 and as a memorial to the late singer, the couple's favourite area in Central Park was designated as Strawberry Fields named after the title of the Beatles' song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. The teardrop-shaped area was landscaped by the Central Park Conservancy with a 1 million dollar donation from Yoko Ono. Centred in the memorial is a black and white Imagine mosaic designed by a team of artists from the Italian city of Naples and a bronze plaque lists the more than 120 countries that donated money to the memorial. In memory of John Lennon, his widow Yoko Ono was present in March 2002 at the unveiling of a seven-foot statue of the legendary singer to mark the renaming of Liverpool airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Lennon in the Top 5 of the magazine’s ‘100 Greatest Singers of all time’ list.

The reverse side is designed by Henry Gray featuring news & celebrity photographer Bob Gruen’s side profile black and white photo of Lennon taken in August 1974 wearing his New York City T-shirt on the roof terrace of his penthouse in New York City. Accompanied by the words JOHN LENNON and IMAGINE in a vertical direction which are placed on either side of the portrait. The obverse side includes the effigy of HM King Charles III created by engraver Martin Jennings. Both the denomination ranging from 50 PENCE to 200 POUNDS and the year of issue, 2025 is shown as part of the legend surrounding the King’s likeness. A BU base metal and silver proof version of the coins includes a gold colour print application on the text IMAGINE.

Available from the 17^th March, the BU Cupro-nickel coins are presented in a blister-pak type folder with illustrations and informative text about the life of John Lennon. The silver proof strikes are encapsulated and presented in black branded custom cases and accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The 1/40^th ounce gold proof coin is enclosed in a heat-sealed presentation card with specifications shown on the reverse side. The larger gold pieces are encapsulated and presented in gloss-polished hardwood custom cases accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Mint.