- The main types of silver coins series “Queen Beasts”
- 5 pounds denomination
- 10 pounds denomination
- Design development
- “Bullion” mintage
- “Proof” mintage
- Circulation of coins of this series
- Circulation of coins “Lion of England”
- Circulation of “Unicorn of Scotland” coins
- Circulation of “Red Dragon of Wales” coins
- Circulation of “Griffin of Edward III” coins
- What Mint produces the coins?
- The cost of coins of this series on the market
- Interesting Facts
A series of “Queen’s Beasts” silver coins along with coins of gold The Royal Mint of Britain began to be minted in 2016. The main denominations of the series are 5 pounds (2 troy ounces) and 10 pounds (10 troy ounces). Each denomination in turn is represented by five images of heraldic royal sculptures of Britain that were used during the coronation of Elizabeth II: the Unicorn of Scotland, the Black Bull of Clarence, the Red Dragon of Wales, the Griffin of Edward III and the Lion of England. All Great Britain silver coins in our catalog.
The main types of silver coins series “Queen Beasts”
5 pounds denomination
Obverse: In the inner circle of the coin with a dotted ornament one of the heraldic figures of animals together with heraldic shield is depicted, and in a smooth edging along the edge of the coin is engraved:
- “LION OF ENGLAND 2 OZ. FINE SILVER * 999.9 * 2016/2017/2018”
- “GRIFFIN OF EDWARD III 2 OZ. FINE SILVER * 999.9 * 2016/2017/2018”
- “RED DRAGON OF WALES 2 OZ. FINE SILVER * 999.9 * 2016/2017/2018”
- “UNICORN OF SCOTLAND 2 OZ. FINE SILVER * 999.9 * 2016/2017/2018”
- “BLACK BULL OF CLARENCE 2 OZ. FINE SILVER * 999.9 * 2016/2017/2018”
Reverse: In the center of the coin there is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text “ELIZABETH II • D • G • REG • F • D • 5 POUNDS”. “D • G • REG • F • D”, which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor”, which means “Grace of God, Queen, Protector of the Faith”. You can find all 5 Pounds Great Britain silver coins in our catalog.
10 pounds denomination
Obverse: In the inner circle of a coin with a smooth surface one of the heraldic figures of animals together with heraldic shield is depicted, and in the same smooth border around the edge of the coin is engraved:
- “LION OF ENGLAND * 2016/2017/2018”
- “GRIFFIN OF EDWARD III * 2016/2017/2018”
- “RED DRAGON OF WALES * 2016/2017/2018”
- “UNICORN OF SCOTLAND * 2016/2017/2018”
- “BLACK BULL OF CLARENCE * 2016/2017/2018”
Reverse: In the center of the coin there is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the text “ELIZABETH II • D • G • REG • F • D • 10 POUNDS”. “D • G • REG • F • D”, which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor”, which means “Grace of God, Queen, Protector of the Faith”. All 10 Pounds Great Britain silver coins in our catalog.
Design development
Sketches of the “Queen’s Beasts” series coins were designed by the British Royal Crown Court Jody Clark. Notable that all coins of this series are issued in two qualities of mintage. The first one is a “bullion” − these are mainly 5 pounds (2 ounces) and 10 pounds (10 ounces) denominations, which have the highest 999.9 sample of silver and are exclusively investment. Another one is proof — 500 pounds (1 kg), 10 pounds (10 ounces), 10 pounds (5 ounces), and 2 pounds (1 ounce), which have 999 silver samples and are intended for collectors of numismatists. All 500 Pounds and 2 Pounds Great Britain silver coins in our catalog. In this regard, the coins differ slightly in size and weight.
“Bullion” mintage
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
62,42 |
38,61 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
311,055 |
89,00 |
“Proof” mintage
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
2 pounds |
1 |
31,21 |
38,61 |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
156,30 |
65,00 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
312,59 |
65,00 |
|
500 pounds |
1 kg |
1005,00 |
100,00 |
Circulation of coins of this series
Circulation of coins “Lion of England”
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
“Bullion” mintage |
|||
|
5 pounds |
2 |
2016 |
not restricted |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2017 |
not restricted |
|
“Proof” mintage |
|||
|
500 pounds |
1 kg |
2017 |
600 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2017 |
1250 |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
2017 |
2500 |
|
2 pounds |
1 |
2017 |
8500 |
Circulation of “Unicorn of Scotland” coins
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
“Bullion” mintage |
|||
|
5 pounds |
2 |
2018 |
not restricted |
|
“Proof” mintage |
|||
|
500 pounds |
1 kg |
2017 |
225 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2017 |
850 |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
2017 |
750 |
|
2 pounds |
1 |
2017 |
6250 |
Circulation of “Red Dragon of Wales” coins
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
“Bullion” mintage |
|||
|
5 pounds |
2 |
2017 |
not restricted |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2018 |
not restricted |
|
“Proof” mintage |
|||
|
500 pounds |
1 kg |
2017 |
200 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2017 |
700 |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
2017 |
750 |
|
2 pounds |
1 |
2017 |
6000 |
Circulation of “Black Bull of Clarence” coins
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Weight (g) |
Diameter |
|
“Bullion” mintage |
|||
|
5 pounds |
2 |
2018 |
not restricted |
|
“Proof” mintage |
|||
|
500 pounds |
1 kg |
2017 |
150 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2017 |
600 |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
2017 |
700 |
|
2 pounds |
1 |
2017 |
6000 |
Circulation of “Griffin of Edward III” coins
|
“Bullion” mintage |
|||
|
5 pounds |
2 |
2017 |
not restricted |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
2018 |
not restricted |
What Mint produces the coins?
The Royal Mint of Great Britain has a rather long history of existence, which is more than 1000 years old. In fact, the Mints belonging to Britain were quite a lot both in the state and in the colonial countries. One Mint was replaced by another, there were also numerous mergers of yards, but today the only and main court of the United Kingdom is a Mint located in South Wales. Here the coins of the famous “Queen’s Beasts” series were minted from platinum, gold and silver, as well as the famous “Silver Britain”.
As for the British silver coins of the royal coinage as well as the gold ones, most of them were minted in the mints in the colonial countries, which can be noted by the corresponding stamp on the coins. Only the Royal Mint of Britain never put his stamp on his coins.
The cost of coins of this series on the market
The table below shows the approximate price of the coins of this series on various stock exchanges and online auctions specializing in numismatics. The cost of coins primarily depends on the sample of silver, the weight of a coin in ounces, the quality of minting and the number of copies of a particular coin.
|
Denomination |
Weight (ounce) |
Coin’s name |
Quality |
Year of issue |
Price ($ USD) |
|
10 pounds |
5 |
Red Dragon of Wales |
Proof |
2018 |
577,45-595,00 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
Red Dragon of Wales |
Proof |
2018 |
1062,70-1095,00 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
Griffin of Edward III |
Bullion |
2018 |
201,63-208,53 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
Red Dragon of Wales |
Bullion |
2018 |
193,61-200,19 |
|
10 pounds |
10 |
Lion of England |
Bullion |
2017 |
274,33 |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
Black Bull of Clarence |
Bullion |
2018 |
38,05-38,90 |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
Griffin of Edward III |
Bullion |
2017 |
59,75 |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
Lion of England |
Bullion |
2016 |
119,68 |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
Unicorn of Scotland |
Bullion |
2018 |
41,65 |
|
5 pounds |
2 |
Red Dragon of Wales |
Bullion |
2017 |
45,28 |
Interesting Facts
- “Lunar” series of silver British coins is another interesting and very beautifully designed series of coins, which displays along with the unchanged portrait of Queen Elizabeth II also the zodiac signs of the Eastern horoscope by years. It is of great interest primarily for collectors.
- Each animal, depicted on the coins of the “Queen’s Beasts” series, symbolizes the branches of the Windsor dynasty lineage to which the current Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, belongs. For her coronation in 1953, which solemnly took place in Westminster Abbey, ten sculptures about two meters high each were created. The images of the sculptures were taken from the heraldry of Great Britain and among other things decorated the royal dishes, cutlery, and were also depicted on post stamps.
- You can purchase coins of this series individually, in sets of coins of different types, in tubes of 10 coins of the same type and denomination, as well as in a box with ten tubes (200 coins). Each coin has a certificate of conformity to quality and authenticity.