Royal Mint, 2018 The Queen’s Beasts Unicorn of Scotland 1/4 oz Gold Coin

Description

The fourth release in the incredible Queen’s Beasts series features the highly anticipated Unicorn of Scotland.

Coin Highlights:
Contains 1/4 oz of .9999 fine Gold.
The first coin in the Queen’s Beasts series to feature The Royal Mint’s new guilloché obverse design.
Obverse: Displays the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, along with the face value of 25 pounds.
Reverse: Designed by Jody Clark, the design features a majestic unicorn leaping over a shield. The metal weight, purity and year are listed around the rim.
Sovereign coin backed by the British government.

When Her Majesty The Queen was crowned in 1953, the entrance to Westminster Abbey was guarded by ten fantastical creatures. The Queen’s Beasts were six-foot tall statues that symbolized the heritage and history Queen Elizabeth II inherited that day. These royal protectors have been brought to life in a collection named in their honor, which began in the year The Queen became the world’s longest reigning living monarch and continues in the year of Her Majesty’s Sapphire Jubilee.

An enduring symbol of strength and beauty, it’s easy to see how the unicorn came to be used in heraldry. It first appeared on Scottish heraldry in the twelfth century, after William I created an early form of the Scottish coat of arms. James I of England, who united the English and Scottish thrones, chose the Scottish Unicorn to join the Lion of England to support the Royal Arms. They have supported this shield, which symbolizes the sovereignty of Her Majesty The Queen and represents the unity of the United Kingdom, ever since.