Coin | Silver Quarter Ounce 2021 Lion of England |
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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 first 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.
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 Lion of England is the crowned golden lion of England, which has been one of the supporters of the Royal Arms since the reign of King Edward IV (1461 - 1483). It supports a shield showing the Arms of the United Kingdom as they have been since Queen Victoria's accession in 1837. In the first and last quarters of the shield are the lions of England, taken from the arms of Richard I "The Lionheart" (1157- 1199). The lion and tressure (armorial border) of Scotland appear in the second, and the harp of Ireland is in the third.
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 | |
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 | |
The reverse features the crowned Lion of England standing on its hind legs, ready to defend the kingdom. It holds the Royal Shield of Arms of the United Kingdom.
Around below, the inscription LION OF ENGLAND. Around above, interrupted by the crown, the date · 2021 ·.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in the lower left field next to the shield. |
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Reverse Inscription |
LION OF ENGLAND · 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.
The final mintage quoted in the mint's 2020 sales report is 1,240 sets, plus 100 "The Queens Beasts 2021 UK Quarter Ounce Silver Reverse Frosted Ten-Coin Collection - Trade Packaging". |
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Included in Set |
The Queen’s Beasts 2021 UK Quarter-Ounce Silver Proof Ten-Coin Set, mintage 1,240, 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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