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 type is the first out of ten designs from the Royal Tudor Beasts Collection - coins depicting heraldic animals representing the Medieval Tudor dynasty which ruled England between 1485 and 1603.
Originally representing Anne Boleyn, and Katherine of Aragon before her, the Seymour Panther was given to Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII, by the king from the royal treasury of beasts. Although the stone beast is depicted as a ferocious animal, with flames coming from its mouth and ears, the Seymour Panther symbolised a peaceful and loving union between the king and his consort who bore him the male heir he so desperately yearned for. |