| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Una and the Lion, Bullion |
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Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the popular silver ounce (1 oz silver) format, usually denominated as £1.
The Mint says about this coin:
Celebrating our heroine Una, an iconic symbol of beauty and honour, and her majestic protector - the lion, the 2021 Una and the Lion 1oz Silver Proof coin features a beautiful new design by engraver Glyn Davies. The 2021 powerful and dramatic design highlights the beauty of Una and the raw power of the lion.
The story of Una and the Lion is the allegorical creation of celebrated English poet Edmund Spencer, author of The Faerie Queen in 1590. The iconic pair first featured on a British coin in 1837 with the issue of Queen Victoria’s majestic £5 gold piece and have long been considered symbols of beauty, strength and honour. Una is a beautiful princess whose parents and kingdom are captured by a ferocious dragon. She sets out on a quest to free them from the dragons clutches, taking her on an epic journey of battles, adventure and romance. During her quest she faces many challenges that tests her humility and determination, including being confronted by a fierce lion. The lion is so taken by her beauty and purity that he abandons his attack on her, becoming her protector and loyal companion. Una enlists the help of a knight to help her slay the Dragon. Steadfast and true to her cause, Una’s virtues inspire the knight to slay the dragon and fulfil his destiny as the hero St George, the Patron Saint of England. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left.
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 1 POUND ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows mythical heroine Una walking together with the lion; she wears a long dress and a billowing cloak, and holds a spear in her right hand. The lion is in an aggressive stance with his teeth bared and his terrific full mane flowing.
Around above left, the inscription · UNA AND THE LION ·; around above right, 1 OZ 999 AG (one troy ounce of silver; Ag is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver); around below, the date of issue · 2021 ·.
Above the ground below left, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
· UNA AND THE LION · 1 OZ 999 AG · 2021 · |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated)
Packaging: individual loose coin, or mint tube of 18, or monster box of 450 coins.
Note that this is the bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated) version of the coin, the reverse of which differs from that of the proof ounce. |
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| See also |
Coins featuring the Una and the Lion theme and issued for Saint Helena include:
- Five Sovereigns Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 1 kg Silver Antique, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 2 oz Silver Antique (Ultra High Relief), Una and the Lion, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2024
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