Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion, Coin from Saint Helena - detailed information

Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion, Coin from Saint Helena
CoinSilver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion

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 silver two ounces (2 oz silver) format, denominated as £2.

This coin is part of the Una and the Lion range by The East India Company.

The legend of Una and the Lion dates back to the 16th Century and Edmund Spencer’s epic medieval poem, The Faerie Queene. Una is a beautiful princess on a quest to rescue her parents from a dragon who has imprisoned them in a tower. She encounters a fierce lion whose rage is subdued as he is captivated by Una’s beauty and innocence. He becomes her faithful companion, forever by her side, protecting her from harm. The relationship between Una and the Lion and the great coin designers began with the 1839 five-pound piece, produced to mark the first anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria. It featured a bold neoclassical design by William Wyon, whose Una and the Lion symbolised the young Queen Victoria harnessing the power of the mighty British nation, represented by the Lion. It is now recognised as one of history’s most beautiful coin designs, a legacy which continues with the East India Company’s annual Una and the Lion Collection.

The mint says about the 2023 edition:
"This powerfully elegant 2023 design by Glyn Davies captures the inseparable bond and unwavering courage of Una and the Lion, giving equal prominence to these two legendary characters. The design’s Art Nouveau influences beautifully emphasise the fantastical nature of Spenser’s epic poem and the steely determination of the brave princess and mighty beast at her side."

The 2023 edition is the first in the Una and Lion coin collection to feature the portrait of King Charles III by Glyn Davies, who is thus in the relatively rare position of having designed both sides of the coin.

MintEast India Company (modern) Mint MarkEIC Total Mintage750
Obverse
Saint Helena / Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King Charles III facing left.

In tiny letters on the neck truncation, the artist's initials: GD (for Glyn Davies).

Around, the monarch's legend and the face value: CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.

Obverse Inscription CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·
Reverse
Saint Helena / Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin shows mythical heroine Una together with the lion; they sit next to each other, and she has her hand on the lion's neck; with her other hand, Una holds a spear. In the background, the rising sun.

Around above left, the inscription · UNA AND THE LION ·; around below, the date of issue · 2023 ·.

Below left in the rim, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated.

Reverse Inscription · UNA AND THE LION · · 2023 ·
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Finish: Proof FDC.
Packaging: in presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
East India Company SKU: FG23UNASP2OZ
Release date: 21 April 2023.
Issue price: £195.00

See also

Coins featuring the Una and the Lion theme and issued for Saint Helena include:
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- Five Sovereigns Proof, Una and the Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 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
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 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 Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023

All (11) coins of type: Silver Two Ounces (2 oz)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Silver Two Ounces 2021 Masterpiece - Una and the Lion 1,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2021 Una and the Lion, Proof 750 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2021 The Three Graces 2,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS · 2021 ·
Silver Two Ounces 2021 Napoleon 200th Anniversary 821 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ST. HELENA · 2021 ELIZABETH II · TWO POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2022 Gothic Crown 1,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · TWO POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2022 Queen Victoria - Gothic 1,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS · 2022 ·
Silver Two Ounces 2022 Platinum Jubilee 700 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS 2022 ·
Silver Two Ounces 2022 Una and the Lion, Proof 1,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2022 Faerie Queene - Una and Redcrosse 500 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2022 · 2 POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2023 Faerie Queene - Una and the Lion 500 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2023 · 2 POUNDS ·
Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion 750 King Charles III - Portrait by Glyn Davies CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2 POUNDS ·
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Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion: Details
CountrySaint Helena
CurrencySaint Helena Pound
Coin TypeSilver Two Ounces (2 oz)
Issued2023
MonarchKing Charles III
EffigyKing Charles III - Portrait by Glyn Davies
Face Value2 (x Pound)
Total Mintage750
CurrentYes
Material0.999 Silver
DesignerGlyn Davies
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size45.000 mm
Mass62.100 g
OCC IDQRAP-EBNC-MYMP-EYJD
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Silver Two Ounces 2023 Una and the Lion: Photos
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Una & The Lion 2023 2oz Silver Proof Coin
Copyright: The East India Company
Source
Una & The Lion 2023 2oz Silver Proof Coin
Copyright: The East India Company
Source