Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland, Coin from United Kingdom
CoinSilver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland

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 (they are actually fractionally heavier as a whole, to account for the small amount of other metal in the alloy).

The 1 kg silver coins are denominated as Five Hundred Pounds (£500), 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 bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art.

This coin type is the second from a series of ten coin designs known as the Queen's Beasts.

The Queen's Beasts are British coins issued by the Royal Mint in platinum, gold, and silver since 2016. Each of the coins in the series features a stylized version of one of the heraldic Queen's Beasts statues present at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II representing her royal line of ancestry. It was announced that engraver Jody Clark will design the entire series; he is best known for also designing the Queen's Fifth definitive portrait, which is on the obverse of the coins.

The Queen's Beasts heraldic statues representing the genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II stood in front of the temporary western annexe to Westminster Abbey for the Queen's coronation in 1953. Each of The Queen's Beasts consists of an heraldic beast supporting a shield bearing a badge or arms of a family associated with the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II. They were commissioned by the British Ministry of Works from sculptor James Woodford. The statues were uncoloured except for their shields at the coronation. They are now on display in the Canadian Museum of History. There are other statues of the Queen's Beasts, sometimes referred to as the King's Beasts, at Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens in London, and on the roof of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The Unicorn of Scotland comes from the Royal Arms of Scotland. From the end of the 16th century, two unicorns were adopted as the supporters of the Scottish Royal Arms. In 1603, the crown of England passed to King James VI of Scotland, who then became King James I of England. He took as supporters of his Royal Arms a crowned lion of England and one of his Scottish unicorns. The unicorn holds a shield showing the Royal Arms of Scotland, a lion ramping in a royal tressure, adorned with fleur-de-lis.

The silver one kilogram coin was issued in a mahogany presentation box, Royal Mint Product Code: UK17QUSK, issue price: £2050.00, with issue limit of 150 boxed, maximum coin mintage 225, in Proof FDC grade only.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 88
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).

Running continuously around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Reverse
United Kingdom / Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland - reverse photo

The reverse features the Unicorn of Scotland standing on its hind legs, holding the Shield of the Royal Arms of Scotland, chained with a coronet around its neck like a collar. According to legend, the unicorn is a very dangerous beast, for which reason on its heraldic representation it is chained. It is thought that the chain was to show a great beast had been tamed to serve the king. As with most chained beasts in heraldry, its strength is emphasised rather than diminished by its shackles.

Around below, the inscription UNICORN OF SCOTLAND. Around above, interrupted by the unicorn's head, the date · 2017 ·.

The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in the lower left field next to the shield.

Reverse Inscription UNICORN OF SCOTLAND · 2017 ·
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

From the Royal Mint web page about the coin:
"The second release in The Queen’s Beasts Collection celebrates the Unicorn of Scotland. As a powerful symbol of strength and beauty, it’s easy to see how the unicorn has come to be used in heraldry. A symbol of Scottish heritage for centuries, the Unicorn also features on the Royal Arms of Her Majesty The Queen, which unites the four home nations.

The history and legend of the Unicorn has been captured in Royal Mint coin designer Jody Clark’s dynamic design. This edition of the coin is the largest silver coin in the range, struck in a kilo of 999 fine silver with a 100mm diameter. The coin has been finished to Proof standard and is presented in a Royal Mint case with a booklet produced in association with Clive Cheesman, Richmond Herald at the College of Arms."

See also

Coins in the Queen's Beasts series featuring the Unicorn of Scotland include:
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, Unicorn of Scotland, 2019
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Unicorn of Scotland, 2018
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion, Unicorn of Scotland, 2018
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 10 oz Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, Unicorn of Scotland, 2019
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Unicorn of Scotland, 2018
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017
- 1/4 oz Silver Proof, Unicorn of Scotland, 2021
- £5 Copper-Nickel Brilliant Uncirculated, Unicorn of Scotland, 2017

Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint Mintage link
All (65) coins of type: Silver Kilo (1 kg)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Silver Kilo 2012 London Olympics 910 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D 500 POUNDS · 2012
Silver Kilo 2012 Diamond Jubilee 206 Royal Arms ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS
Silver Kilo 2013 Coronation Anniversary 301 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D 500 POUNDS · 2013
Silver Kilo 2013 Prince George Christening 194 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D 500 POUNDS
Silver Kilo 2014 First World War Outbreak 165 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D 500 POUNDS · 2014
Silver Kilo 2015 Longest Reigning Monarch 278 Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by James Butler ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2015
Silver Kilo 2015 Churchill 69 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D 500 POUNDS · 2015
Silver Kilo 2016 Year of the Monkey (88) Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2016 Queen's 90th Birthday 447 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2016 ·
Silver Kilo 2017 Year of the Rooster 62 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2017 Sapphire Jubilee 225 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2017 Platinum Wedding 125 ELIZABETH II D G REG F D · PHILIP PRINCEPS · 500 POUNDS
Silver Kilo 2017 Lion of England 116 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland 88 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Year of the Dog 25 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Sapphire Jubilee 92 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Armistice unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2018 ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Red Dragon of Wales 129 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Black Bull of Clarence 99 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2018 Britannia 235 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2019 Year of the Pig 23 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2019 Victoria and Albert 44 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2019 ·
Silver Kilo 2019 Falcon of the Plantagenets 72 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2019 Yale of Beaufort 89 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2019 Britannia 83 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2020 Britannia 29 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2020 The Three Graces 125 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2020 ·
Silver Kilo 2020 Year of the Rat 25 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2020 White Lion of Mortimer 86 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2020 White Horse of Hanover 72 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2020 James Bond 10 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2020 ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Queen's 95th Birthday 149 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2021 ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Prince Philip 48 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2021 ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Britannia, Premium Exclusive 39 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Year of the Ox 24 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 White Greyhound of Richmond 56 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Griffin of Edward III 83 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 The Queen's Beasts Completer Coin, Proof 76 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 The Queen's Beasts Completer Coin, Bullion unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Gothic Crown 41 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2021 ·
Silver Kilo 2021 Queen Victoria - Gothic 19 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2021 ·
Silver Kilo 2022 Year of the Tiger 35 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2022 Britannia - Womanhood 28 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2022 Platinum Jubilee 140 Equestrian Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2022 ·
Silver Kilo 2022 The Seymour Panther 63 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2022 The Lion of England 34 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2022 City Views - London 11 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2022 ·
Silver Kilo 2022 In Memory of Queen Elizabeth II 259 King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2022 ·
Silver Kilo 2023 Year of the Rabbit (52) Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2023 The Yale of Beaufort (72) Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2023 Britannia (Queen Elizabeth II) unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2023 Britannia (King Charles III) unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2023 King Charles III Coronation (202) King Charles III - First Crowned Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2023 ·
Silver Kilo 2023 The Lion and The Eagle (77) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2023 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 Year of the Dragon (52) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 Waterloo Medal (127) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 Britannia unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2024 St George and the Dragon unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
Silver Kilo 2024 D-Day Anniversary unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 Music Legends - Paul McCartney (67) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 The Lion and The Eagle (127) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 Britannia and Liberty (77) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2024 The Snowman (3) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2024 ·
Silver Kilo 2025 Year of the Snake (52) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS · 2025 ·
Silver Kilo 2025 Britannia unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·
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Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeSilver Kilo (1 kg)
Issued2017
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Portrait by Jody Clark (Fifth Portrait)
Face Value500 (x Pound)
Total Mintage88
Mintage Limit225
CurrentYes
Material0.999 Silver
DesignerJody Clark
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size100.0000 mm
Mass1,005.0000 g
OCC IDQRAP-OBNC-AJWN-OYJD
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Silver Kilo 2017 Unicorn of Scotland: Catalogue Reference IDs