| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 White Lion of Mortimer |
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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. The quarter-ounce (1/4 oz) silver coins are denominated as fifty pence (50p).
This coin type is the seventh 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 stylised 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 - so he is in the rare position of having designed both sides.
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 White Lion of Mortimer descends to the Queen through King Edward IV. The shield shows a white rose encircled by a golden sun, known heraldically as a "white rose en soleil" which is really a combination of two distinct badges. Both of these appear on the Great Seals of King Edward IV and King Richard III, and were used by the Queen's father, King George VI, when he was Duke of York. Unlike the Lion of England, this beast is uncrowned.
The quarter-ounce silver coin was issued as part of a ten-coin set on 28 June 2021, wrapping up the series. |
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| Obverse | |
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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 · 50 PENCE ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse features a dynamic depiction of the rampant (standing) White Lion of Mortimer, facing right. It holds a shield with a badge combining the emblems of a white rose and the sun.
Around below, the inscription WHITE LION OF MORTIMER. Around above, interrupted by the beast's head, the date · 2021 ·.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in the lower right field next to the shield. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
WHITE LION OF MORTIMER · 2021 · |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC, reverse frosted (with polished designs and frosted surfaces).
Packaging and distribution: in mint set only. |
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| Included in Set |
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The Queen’s Beasts 2021 UK Quarter-Ounce Silver Proof Ten-Coin Set, mintage 1,250, limited to 1,250
10 coins: Lion of England, Unicorn of Scotland, Red Dragon of Wales, Black Bull of Clarence, Falcon of the Plantagenets, Yale of Beaufort, White Lion of Mortimer, White Horse of Hanover, White Greyhound of Richmond, Griffin of Edward III
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| See also |
Coins in the Queen's Beasts series featuring the White Lion of Mortimer include:
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, White Lion of Mortimer, 2021
- 1 kg Gold Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 5 oz Gold Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1 kg Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 10 oz Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, White Lion of Mortimer, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 2 oz Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
- 1/4 oz Silver Proof, White Lion of Mortimer, 2021
- £5 Copper-Nickel Brilliant Uncirculated, White Lion of Mortimer, 2020
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