Beatles star John Lennon has been immortalised on a new coin to coincide with the year he would have celebrated his 85th birthday.

The coin was issued by the Royal Mint to celebrate Lennon's life and extraordinary career, the BBC reported.

The coin's design is based on one of Lennon's most famous portrait photographs, taken on the roof of his New York penthouse six years before he was shot.

Its Imagine inscription on the right side of the coin is a special nod to the artist's single and album, which became a posthumous hit worldwide.

The coin's designer, Henry Gray, wanted the portrait, based on a photograph taken by photographer Bob Gruen, to be featured as the main design along with John Lennon's name.

Lennon followed Queen, David Bowie, Shirley Bassey and Sir Paul McCartney, who were honoured on their own coin in the UK.

As a founding member of the Beatles and also as a solo artist, Lennon has won numerous awards, including seven Grammy Awards. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lennon was shot four times and killed outside his apartment in Manhattan, New York, on December 81980.

After his death, fans gathered at the nearby Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park for an all-day vigil, at which musicians played Lennon's songs and the crowd sang along.

His widow, Yoko Ono, is believed to place a lit candle in the window of Lennon's room in the Dakota Building every year on December 8.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, said the coin was a "fitting tribute" to the singer's 85th birthday, which is on October 9.

"Still admired by millions of people and generations around the world, we hope this coin and its design will be treasured for many years to come," she said. | BGNES