The Queen's Beasts coins are British coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold and silver since 2016. Each of the 10 planned coins in the series features a stylized version of one of the heraldic Queen's Beasts statues present at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II representing her royal line of ancestry. The silver coin is notable as it marks "the first time an official two-ounce United Kingdom silver bullion coin has been struck". The entire series' designs are to be created by engraver Jody Clark. In December of 2016, a full line of Proof quality coins was announced. In 2017 the mint began producing a Platinum version of the coin.
Video The Queen's Beasts (coin)
The Lion of England
The Lion of England is the first in the series of Queen's Beasts coins, released in March, 2016. The initial allocation of bullion coins from the Royal Mint sold out and were not available again until Mid-June 2016. Proof versions were announced in November 2016.
Single coins were delivered in a plastic coin capsule or flip, as chosen when ordering. Bulk orders were delivered in the same containers used for packaging Britannia bullion coins: 10 coins per tube, 20 tubes per box. The tube for silver can potentially hold a total of 13 coins.
On February 18, 2016, Wholesale Direct Metals announced that they would be the exclusive North American distributor for the Royal Mint of the Lion of England bullion coins. By mid-2016, the coins were widely available for sale and trade from a variety of sources. The proof versions were widely available in December 2016.
Obverse
The obverse features the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text "ELIZABETH II o D o G o REG o F o D o (5/25/100/500/1000) POUNDS". DG REG FD is an abbreviation of the latin "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor," meaning "Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith". It is a form of the style of the British sovereign of Queen Elizabeth II common on coins of the Pound Sterling. The initials of artist Jody Clark appear just below the portrait.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the crowned Lion of England surrounded by the text "LION OF ENGLAND o (¼/1/2)oz FINE (GOLD/SILVER) o 999.9 o 2016". Jody Clark's initials appear just below the shield, offset to the right except--on the proof versions, where they are on the left. The text on the proof versions does not include a weight or fineness; the proofs also have a distinct design from the reverse of the bullion version.
Maps The Queen's Beasts (coin)
The Griffin of Edward III
The Griffin of Edward III is the second in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins, released in November 2016.
Single coins were delivered in a plastic coin capsule or flip, as chosen when ordering. Bulk orders were delivered in the same containers used for packaging Britannia bullion coins: 10 coins per tube, 20 tubes per box. The tube for silver can potentially hold a total of 13 coins.
Obverse
The obverse features the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text "ELIZABETH II o D o G o REG o F o D o (5/25/100/500/1000) POUNDS". DG REG FD is an abbreviation of the latin "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor," meaning "Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith". It is a form of the style of the British sovereign of Queen Elizabeth II common on coins of the Pound Sterling. The initials of artist Jody Clark appear just below the portrait.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Griffin of Edward III surrounded by the text "GRIFFIN OF EDWARD III o (¼/1/2)oz FINE (GOLD/SILVER) o 999.9 o 2017". Jody Clark's initials appear just below the shield, offset to the right.
The Red Dragon of Wales
The Red Dragon of Wales is the third in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins, released in March 2017.
Single coins were delivered in a plastic coin capsule or flip, as chosen when ordering. Bulk orders were delivered in the same containers used for packaging Britannia bullion coins: 10 coins per tube, 20 tubes per box. The tube for silver can potentially hold a total of 13 coins.
Obverse
The obverse features the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text "ELIZABETH II o D o G o REG o F o D o (5/25/100/500/1000) POUNDS". DG REG FD is an abbreviation of the latin "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor," meaning "Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith". It is a form of the style of the British sovereign of Queen Elizabeth II common on coins of the Pound Sterling. The initials of artist Jody Clark appear just below the portrait.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Red Dragon of Wales surrounded by the text "RED DRAGON OF WALES o (¼/1/2)oz FINE (GOLD/SILVER) o 999.9 o 2017". Jody Clark's initials appear just below the shield, offset to the right.
The Unicorn of Scotland
The Unicorn of Scotland is the fourth in the series of in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins released September 2017.
Obverse
The obverse features the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text "ELIZABETH II o D o G o REG o F o D o (5/25/100/500/1000) POUNDS". DG REG FD is an abbreviation of the latin "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor," meaning "Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith". It is a form of the style of the British sovereign of Queen Elizabeth II common on coins of the Pound Sterling. The initials of artist Jody Clark appear just below the portrait.
With this fourth release, the obverse background of the bullion versions was changed from a stucco-like finish to an arcing pattern of many small diamonds.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Unicorn of Scotland surronded by the text "UNICORN OF SCOTLAND" o (¼/1/2)oz FINE (GOLD/SILVER) o 999.9 o 2018". Jody Clark's initials appear just below the shield, offset to the left.
The Falcon of the Plantagenets
The Falcon of the Plantagenets is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Falcon of the Plantagenets.
The Black Bull of Clarence
The Black Bull of Clarence is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Black Bull of Clarence.
The Yale of Beaufort
The Yale of Beaufort is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the Yale of Beaufort.
The White Lion of Mortimer
The White Lion of Mortimer is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the White Lion of Mortimer.
The White Greyhound of Richmond
The White Greyhound of Richmond is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the White Greyhound of Richmond.
The White Horse of Hanover
The White Horse of Hanover is an upcoming design in the series of Queen's Beasts bullion coins but is not yet released.
Reverse
The reverse features a stylized rendition of the White Horse of Hanover.
Specifications
The following table contains specifications for each coin.
Mintage
The following table has the most recent available information on the numbers of coins minted by design.
See also
- List of British banknotes and coins
- Coins of the pound sterling
- Royal Mint
- The Queen's Beasts
- Gold as an investment
- Silver as an investment
References
Source of article : Wikipedia