2021 Queen’s Beasts Completer Coin 1oz Gold Proof NGC PF70 - First 55 Struck #15

Description

Available for purchase is the 2021 Queen’s Beasts Completer Coin 1oz Gold Proof graded PF70 by NGC, with the One of First of 55 Struck Label designation. Mintage of 625 and sold out from the Royal Mint, this coin features all 10 of the Queen’s Beasts to complete this hugely popular series and provides a fitting finale. Includes individually numbered COA #15 and wood box as pictured.
Each of the beasts featured on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin has a royal story to tell. Some are instantly recognisable, while others are more obscure. Here's a quick who's who of the creatures in the order that they appear, listed clockwise from top.
The Lion of England: A symbol of courage and strength, the lion first became associated with English royalty in the middle ages, famously appearing on Richard the Lionheart's great seal: the earliest documented royal coat of arms. On the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin, the roaring king of the jungle wears a crown.
The Red Dragon of Wales: The Y Ddraig Goch (red dragon) has been associated with Wales since the sixth-century. Later, during the reign of the Tudor monarchs, this snarling serpent was used as a supporter in the English Crown's coat of arms. The dragon extends a threatening talon to the Lion of England which is depicted next to it on the Queen’s Beasts: Completer Coin.
The Griffin of Edward III: With the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, the griffin was said to be both powerful and intelligent, known for guarding treasure: a fitting subject for a coin. Edward III used the griffin on his private seal and it appears on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin too, wings raised.
The Unicorn of Scotland: Legend says that the Scots choose the unicorn as their emblem because the horned beast was a natural enemy of the lion: the symbol of their old enemy, the English. After the 1707 Act of Union, the unicorn joined its rival on the arms of the United Kingdom and appears on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin as well.
The Black Bull of Clarence: The black bull was a symbol of the Yorkist kings, used by the likes of Edward IV and Richard III, to signify their royal descent through the bull-like Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence. On the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin the bull appears to the base of the reverse design.
The Falcon of the Plantagenets: Hunting with birds of prey was an elite sport in medieval England, so using this beast in heraldry suggested nobility and prowess. The falcon, depicted with its wings outstretched on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin coin, was particularly associated with Edward IV and the House of York.
The Yale of Beaufort: The yale became linked with the British monarchy through Henry VII’s mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, whose family used the spotted, goat-like mythological creature in their arms. This bizarre looking beast accompanies its more recognisable fellows on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin.
The White Lion of Mortimer: Richard III, who Henry VII defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field, claimed royal descent through another grand lady: Anne de Mortimer. Her family’s symbol, the white lion, is seen in profile on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin and, unlike the Lion of England, this Queen's Beast is uncrowned.
The White Horse of Hanover: While other creatures featured on the Queen’s Beasts: Completer Coin harken back to the middle ages, the white horse trotted in during the eighteenth-century. The first Hanoverian King, George I co-opted the German Sachsenross (Saxon steed) into the British heraldic stable, leading to a profusion of pubs named in its honour.
The White Greyhound of Richmond: Returning to Wars of the Roses, the white greyhound, its depiction on the Queen's Beasts: Completer Coin collared but unleashed, was associated with both Yorkists and Lancastrians, connoting loyalty and vigour. Henry VII adopted the dog to indicate his descent from both houses, reinforcing his right to rule.
· 2021 Queen’s Beasts Completer 1oz Gold Proof
· Produced by The Royal Mint as a celebratory farewell to the globally admired Queen’s Beasts series.
· Limited Edition Packaging mintage of only 625 pieces!
· Contains 1 troy oz of 999.9 fine Gold in proof condition.
· Struck in stunning high-relief.
· Presented encapsulated in fine display box with Certificate of Authenticity.
· Sovereign coin backed by the British government.
· Obverse: Displays Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, against the brilliance of a clean background. Inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II . D. G. REG. F. D." and the 100 pounds face value.
· Reverse: Displays within a center inset a smaller effigy of Queen Elizabeth II against a textured pattern. The inscription "THE QUEEN’S BEASTS . 2021" encircles the Queen’s portrait. Encircling the outer rim are small replicas of the ten Queen’s Beasts originally featured on each of the ten releases. Each of the Beasts are presented within a fine, arched frame. Also, each Beast has extended at least one hoof, paw, or claw to rest on the center inset.