2016 2 oz Silver Great Britain Queen’s Beasts

This is the first release in a 10-coin series of majestic creatures from The Royal Mint. The Queen’s Beasts series features the heraldic beasts that stood guard at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

At the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen, 10 heraldic beasts stood guard. The Queen’s Beasts, sculpted by James Woodford RA for the coronation ceremony held in Westminster Abbey in 1953, stand six feet tall. The heraldic creatures symbolized the various strands of royal ancestry brought together in a young woman about to be crowned queen. Each proud beast, used as a heraldic badge by generations that went before her, was inspired by the King’s Beasts of Henry VIII that still line the bridge over the moat at his Hampton Court Palace.

Today, The Queen’s Beasts can be found at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, while Portland stone replicas, also carved by James Woodford, watch over Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. But these mythical, ancient creatures – lions, griffin, falcon, bull, yale, greyhound, dragon, unicorn and horse – have gone on to inspire the highly-praised new talent, Royal Mint Coin Designer Jody Clark.

The Lion of England Queen’s Beast is the crowned golden lion of England which has been one of the supporters of the Royal Arms since the accession of James I in 1603. It is supporting a shield showing the Arms of the United Kingdom as they have been since Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837. In the first and last quarters of the shield are the lions of England. The lion and treasure of Scotland appear in the second, and the harp of Ireland is in the third.

The Barbary lion is a national animal of England. Lion was the nickname of England’s medieval warrior rulers with a reputation for bravery, such as Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. Lions are frequently depicted in English heraldry, either as a device on shields themselves, or as supporters. They also appear in sculpture, and sites of national importance, such as Trafalgar Square. The lion is used as a symbol of English sporting teams, such as the England national cricket team.

Long and Important History depicted on Queen’s Beasts Silver Coins

The lion and England have a long history together. The Lion of England was a supporter of the Royal Arms, and the lion was a symbol for bravery and strength. The lion is an important animal and symbol for England whose image is used throughout English culture and society. It is appropriate for the 2016 Great Britain 2 oz Silver Queen’s Beasts series to depict the lion with its inaugural release. Buy your British Silver coin today and diversify your collection.

The 2 oz Silver coin is the first of its kind produced by the Royal British Mint.