Royal Mint, 2016 The Queen’s Beasts Lion of England 1/4 oz Gold Coin

Description

Now available in 1/4 oz Gold. This is the first release in an exciting new 10 coin series. The Queen’s Beasts celebrates the British Monarch and the centuries of fascinating heraldry that has been a part of their story.

Coin Highlights:
Contains 1/4 oz of .9999 fine Gold.
Obverse: Displays the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, along with the face value of 25 pounds.
Reverse: Features a majestic lion, metal weight, purity and year.
Sovereign coin backed by the British government.

At the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen, ten heraldic beasts stood guard. The Queen’s Beasts, sculpted by James Woodford RA for the coronation ceremony held in Westminster Abbey in 1953, stand six feet tall. The heraldic creatures symbolized the various strands of royal ancestry brought together in a young woman about to be crowned queen. Each proud beast, used as a heraldic badge by generations that went before her, was inspired by the King’s Beasts of Henry VIII that still line the bridge over the moat at his Hampton Court Palace.

Today, The Queen’s Beasts can be found at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, while Portland stone replicas, also carved by James Woodford, watch over Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. But these mythical, ancient creatures – lions, griffin, falcon, bull, yale, greyhound, dragon, unicorn and horse – have gone on to inspire the highly-praised new talent, Royal Mint Coin Designer Jody Clark.

The Lion of England Queen’s Beast is the crowned golden lion of England which has been one of the supporters of the Royal Arms since the accession of James I in 1603. It is supporting a shield showing the Arms of the United Kingdom as they have been since Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837. In the first and last quarters of the shield are the lions of England. The lion and treasure of Scotland appear in the second, and the harp of Ireland is in the third.

The Barbary lion is a national animal of England. Lion was the nickname of England’s medieval warrior rulers with a reputation for bravery, such as Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. Lions are frequently depicted in English heraldry, either as a device on shields themselves, or as supporters. They also appear in sculpture, and sites of national importance, such as Trafalgar Square. The lion is used as a symbol of English sporting teams, such as the England national cricket team.
The Queen’s Beast coins are produced by the Royal British Mint. The series will include nine other animals that represent the genealogy of the queen. These beasts will include the griffin, falcon, black bull, yale, white lion, white greyhound, red dragon, the unicorn and the white horse. The reception was overwhelmingly good by the public upon its release. The 1/4 oz Gold coin makes a great addition to any portfolio because it provides excellent diversification. These coins are high in quality and value. Add the fractional Gold to your collection today.
The reverse of the coin depicts the heraldic lion. The lion is a symbol of strength and pride. The obverse of the coin depicts a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who was crowned in 1953. During the Queen’s coronation, 10 beasts symbolically guarded Westminster Abbey. The Queen’s Beasts is the inspiration behind the 10-coin series that will be rolled out in limited mintage every year. The coin’s designer was Jody Clark, the youngest designer to have a design officially commissioned by the British Mint for use on a sovereign coin.
The Lion of England is the first beast to appear for the Queen’s Beast coins produced by the Royal British Mint.