The fourth coin of the Queen's Beasts series, with the motif "The Unicorn of Scotland" is available. The Queen's Beasts is a 10-part coin series from the Royal Mint that celebrates the history of British heraldry.
Inspired by ancient symbols of power and identity, the Queen’s Beasts collection represent the 10 statues that lined the entrance to Westminster Abbey in 1953 at the coronation of her majesty the Queen.
The unique motifs and low premiums make these coins ideal for both investors and collectors.
Fine Weight and Fineness
The Queen's Beasts Unicorn Gold Coin 2018 has a fineness of 999.9/1000 and comes in brilliant uncirculated condition. The high fineness makes the coin particularly sensitive to surface scratches and therefore should be kept in its protective cover. The gold coins are issued in 1 oz and ¼ oz.
Weight |
Fineness |
Diameter |
Nominal value |
1oz |
999.9/1000 |
32.69 mm |
100 GBP |
Appearance
On the motif side of the Queen's Beasts 2018 the "Unicorn of Scotland" is seen standing on its hind legs with a with the coat of arms in front. The unicorn has a crown as a collar connected by a chain. The other end of the chain is attached to the Scottish coat of arms.
The background of the motif is decorated with gold filigree, interwoven with each other, forming a chain pattern.
The coat of arms of Scotland was introduced by King William I who was the first ruler after 1165. On the coat of arms is a red upright lion with forked tail. King William I would later receive the epithet “King William I the Lion”.
The writing is located in an optically remote area on the edge, which separates the motif from the edge bar. The inscription reads: "UNICORN OF SCOTLAND • 1oz • Fine Gold • 999.9 • 2018". The initials "JC" are embossed underneath the coat of arms and stand for Jody Clark who designed the motif side of the Queen's Beasts 2018 gold coin.
The value side of the gold coin shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. It is the fifth official portrait from the Royal Mint, which has been used since 2015. The portrait was also designed by "JC" - Jody Clark. The coin background is covered with numerous point-like elevations.
The inscription on the edge is "Elizabeth II • D • G • Reg • F • D • 100 Pounds"
"D. G. REG. F. D. stands for the abbreviation "Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor" (in English:" by God's grace, queen, defender of faith ").
Story
The Royal Mint launched “The Queen’s Beasts” gold and silver coin series at the beginning of 2016. In 1953 "The Queen's Beasts" statues were originally created by sculptor James Woodford on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The ten statues were designed with the help of the heralds of the coat of arms and are about 1.83 m high and made of plaster.
The name of the 10 statue’s are:
The Lion of England,
The Griffin of Edward III,
The Falcon of The Plantagenets,
The Black Bull of Clarence,
The Yale of Beaufort,
The White Lion of Mortimer,
The White Greyhound of Richmond ,
The Red Dragon of Wales,
The Unicorn of Scotland,
The White Horse of Hanover
Manufacturer
The Royal Mint is the official mint of the United Kingdom and was formed more than 1100 years ago. With a vast and rich history, the mint produces circulation coins for use domestically and internationally, commemorative coins and precious metals bullion.
The most famous product of the mint is the English Gold Sovereign which is one of the oldest gold coins in the world. The Sovereign was minted between 1817-1917, in 1925 and from 1957- present.
The other popular bullion coin from the Royal Mint is the Britannia which was introduced in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. The Royal Mint is located in Llantrisant, South Wales, 20 km northwest of Cardiff.
Details
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Royal Mint
Year of issue: 2018
Fine content: 999.9 / 1000
Fine weight: 31.103 g
Scratch resistance: poor
Denomination: 100 Pounds
Motif Avers: The Unicorn of Scotland
Motif Lapel: Queen Elizabeth II
Metal | Gold |
Form | Gold Coin |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Issuer | Royal Mint |
Manufacturer | The Royal British Mint |
Series | Queen's Beasts |
Purity | 999.9/1000 |
Fineweight | 31.10 gram |
Gross Weight | 31.10 gram |
Denomination (oz) | 1 oz |
Year of issue | 2018 |
Grade | Brilliant |
Condition | Circulated |
Face value | 100 Pounds |
Thickness | 2.79 mm |
Diameter | 32.69 mm |
Packaging | single in Pouch |
Packaging Unit | 10 per tube |