Britain's Royal Mint issues coins in £ 5 with the image of John Lennon

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, CBC.ca reports.

For the first time in its 1,000-year history, the Royal Mint asked the public to decide who should join the likes of William Shakespeare, Sir Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale on its series of coins commemorating British figures of the past.

More than 30,000 votes were cast, with just over 92% - 27,874 - nominating Lennon as the icon most deserving of a place in monetary history, according to Liverpool Echo.