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What Are Queen's Beasts Coins?

The Queens Beasts is a series of 10 designs issued by the Royal Mint to represent the ten heraldic statues that were present at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The coins are issued in Proof/Bullion as silver, gold and platinum and in a wide range of weights and denominations. The release is planned from 2016 through 2021.

Gold is issued as 5oz, 1oz, ¼oz (denominated £500, £100, £25).
Silver is issued as 1kg, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz, 1oz (denominated £500, £20, £10, £5, £2).

(The year is that of the first or proposed release date of that design)

Year Beast Description
2016 Lion of England The crowned golden lion of England. It has been on the Royal Arms sine Edward IV (1461-1483).
2016 Griffin of Edward III The Griffin is an ancient mythical beast. It signifies courage and strength combined.
2017 Red Dragon of Wales The Red dragon was the badge of Owen Tudor. The story derives from the dragon on LLewelyn the Last's castle grounds.
2017 Unicorn of Scotland Two unicorns were adopted by the Scottish Royal Arms back i the 16th century, eventually passing to England via James VI of Scotland who became James I of England.
2018 Black Bull of Clarence The Black Bull derives from Edward IV.
2019 Yale of Beaufort The Yale was a mythical beast, supposedly white and covered with gold spots and able to swivel each of its horns independently. It descends to the Queen through Henry VII. The portcullis is also a Beaufort badge.
2019 White Lion of Mortimer The White Lion of Mortimer derives from Edward IV. The shield shows a white rose encircled by a golden sun, known heraldically as a 'white rose en soleil'.
2020 White Greyhound of Richmond The White Greyhound of Richmond was a badge of John of Gaunt, Earl of Richmond, son of Edward III. Also used by Henry IV and Henry VII. The Tudor double rose is on the shield, one rose within another surmounted by a crown.
2020 Falcon of the Plantagenets The falcon was first used by Edward III of the House of Plantagenet as his badge and descended to Edward IV.
2021 White Horse of Hanover The White Horse of Hanover was introduced into the Royal Arms in 1714 when the crown of Great Britain passed to George I.
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