By Numismatic News
June 09, 2011

When listening to the song “When I’m 64” in 1967, what fan of the Beatles tune would have thought that 44 years later, when he may actually be 64, he would have the chance to bid on a unique gold John Lennon coin struck by the British Royal Mint?

The piece goes on the block June 29 in a Bonhams auction in London.

The coin was specially created by the BRM for Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow, to honor her late husband.

He was selected in an online poll from a field of six individuals from Great Britain’s past to be depicted on a £5 silver coin of the English Channel Island of Alderney. The regular issue is from the Great Britons series. It was issued in 2010 on Lennon’s 70th birthday.

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Ono donated the coin for the benefit of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, Lennon’s hometown. The “Imagine” appeal is the beneficiary and it helps fund the hospital.

The gold coin, which is 38 grams of .999 fine gold, is struck in proof and has a diameter of 38.6mm, virtually silver dollar size.

Lennon’s portrait was designed by Danuta Slowiej-Wedderburn. The obverse of the coin depicts Ian Rank-Broadley’s rendition of Queen Elizabeth II.

Visit www.bonhams.com and look for Lot 337 in the June 29 sale. Estimate is £1,000 to £1,500 pounds sterling, basically gold value if it sells so cheaply.