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Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. Most of these by tradition are measured in troy ounces of fractions thereof, but the mint also introduced metric coins measuring one kilogram of pure metal, then also two and five kilograms (they are actually fractionally heavier as a whole, to account for the small amount of other metal in the alloy). The 2 kg gold coins are denominated as Two Thousand Pounds (£2,000), although their intrinsic (bullion) value is much higher than their face value. The coins vary in design depending on the occasion; they are "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs. The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art or show pieces. This coin is a modern re-interpretation of one of the world’s most beautiful coins, the iconic Una and the Lion Five Pound piece by William Wyon, issued in 1839 for inclusion in the first specimen coin sets of Queen Victoria's reign. The obverse of the original showed the young portrait of Queen Victoria, also by Royal Mint engraver William Wyon (1795 - 1851). The reverse draws its theme from Edmund Spenser’s epic poem entitled the Faerie Queene, first published in 1590 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and depicts the Queen as Una guiding the British lion. There is a powerful contrast between the restrained energy conveyed by the lion and the peace and grace of the standing figure of Una. The design is an unusual one for a British coin, being too medallic - but then, it was never intended for circulation. The Royal Mint released this coin type on 25th November 2019 as the first gold and silver collector’s coins in a new collector series entitled the “Great Engravers", planned to highlight some of the Royal Mint’s great artisans who have made significant contributions to British coinage - many regarded as numismatic masterpieces. The gold two kilograms coin was issued with a mintage limit of only four coins (sold out), in Proof FDC grade only - with a soft proof finish to reflect that of the original. | ||||||||||||
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Royal Mint |
Source | Edition | About | Link | Notes |
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Royal Mint | 6 January 2023 | Mintage | link |
The Una and the Lion design has been issued, re-issued and re-interpreted in the following formats:
- Five Pounds Gold 1839 Una and the Lion - the original issue
- 5 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 2 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 1 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 5 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- Gold £20 (2.5 oz) Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 2 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Five Pounds, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2019
- Double Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Half Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Quarter Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 2 kg Silver, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 5 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 2 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 kg Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 2 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 oz Gold Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 100 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 1 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 10 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- Platinum Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- Platinum Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- 1 oz Gold Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2024)
- Double Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- Half Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- Quarter Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- 100 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2024)
- 10 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2024)
- 1 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2024)
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Royal Mint |
Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling |
Coin Type | Gold Two Kilos (2 kg) |
Issued | 2019 |
Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
Effigy | Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by Jody Clark (Fifth Portrait) |
Face Value | 2000 (x Pound) |
Total Mintage | 4, Rarity: R6 (4 to 8 examples known) |
Current | Yes |
Material | 0.999 Gold |
Designer | William Wyon |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 150.0000 mm |
Mass | 2,010.0000 g |
OCC ID | BYNK-ODDC-MJMJ-OPQM |
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Image | Details |
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Una and the Lion 2019 UK Two Kilos Gold Proof Coin
Copyright: Royal Mint Source |