British Platinum Queen's Beasts
The Queen's Beasts Series - the Royal Mint's first platinum coins
Each coin of this series depicts one of the Queen's Beasts on its reverse side, the 10 heraldic animal statues that appeared in the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II. After the successful market introduction of the Gold Queen's Beasts and Silver Queen's Beasts, the Royal Mint decided to expand the series further by including a platinum version. The first "Lion of England" platinum coin of the series was released in 2017. The series continued with two new issues every year until the final beast issue bearing the White Greyhound of Richmond was released. In addition to the 10 coin designs that make up the Queen's Beasts series, it seems likely that the Royal Mint will eventually also issue a platinum version of the "Completer Coin". This collectible proof coin that shows all ten Queen's Beasts together on its reverse side has already been released as a part of the gold and silver series.
The 99.95% pure Platinum Queen's Beasts are the first-ever platinum coins to be released by Britain's esteemed Royal Mint. Only brilliant uncirculated 1 oz coins are offered. Investors and collectors can buy platinum coins with the images of the various Queen's Beasts individually as well as in 10-coin-tubes and monster boxes containing 100 coins (10 tubes). All coins of the Queen's Beasts coin series are fully backed by the British government. The legal tender coins are also exempt from the UK Capital Gains Tax. American buyers that are investing in platinum for their retirement can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).
British Queen's Beasts Platinum 2021
Coin Specifications
| Weight | Face Value | Purity | Diameter x Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | £ 100 | 99.95% | 32.69 x 1 mm |
Queen's Beasts Coin Designs
Design of the British Queen's Beast coins
The obverse side of the British Queen's Beast coins depicts Jody Clark's official 5th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The artist's initials J.C. appear underneath her majesty's image. Also engraved on the obverse are her majesty's official name, D. G. Reg. F. D. as well as the coin's official face value of 100 Pounds. The background of the obverse side was changed for the 2nd coin of the Queen's Beasts series. Whereas the 1st coin showed a stucco-like background, the British Platinum Queen's Beasts that followed show a guilloché pattern.
The reverse of the Queen's Beasts coins shows one of the 10 heraldic beasts that stood guard at the coronation ceremony of the Queen. The 1st Queen's Beasts platinum coin was released in 2017. It featured the fearsome crowned Lion of England holding a shield emblazoned with the official Arms of the United Kingdom. The 2nd coin of the series shows the Griffin of Edward III. The griffin is shown standing on its hind legs and with its wings raised. The beast's claws are gripping a shield that bears the insignia of the House of Windsor. The 3rd coin shows the Red Dragon of Wales clutching a shield in its claws. The 4th Queen's Beasts coin shows the Unicorn of Scotland leaping over a shield. The 5th coin shows the mighty Black Bull of Clarence on its hind legs rearing above a heraldic shield. The 6th coin depicts the Falcon of the Plantagenets as it is holding a shield. A smaller falcon within an open fetterlock appears on the shield's badge. The 7th release of the coin series features the mythical Yale of Beaufort. The yale is standing on its rear legs with its front legs raised above an emblazoned shield. The 8th release of the coin series features the fierce White Lion of Mortimer. The lion is shown holding a shield that depicts a white rose encircled by a sun (known as "white rose en soleil"). The 9th release of the coin series features the White Horse of Hanover. The horse is shown rearing above a shield that is emblazoned with the heraldic crest of the House of Hanover. The 10th and final release of the coin series features the White Greyhound of Richmond behind a heraldic shield that bears the Tudor rose. In British heraldic tradition, the loyal greyhound is strongly associated with the Tudor family. Jody Clark's initials JC appear again on the reverse underneath each Queen's Beast. The name of each beast is engraved on the coins as well along with the coin's weight, platinum purity and year of mintage.
History of the Queen's Beasts Coin Series
Britain's long history of royal heraldry was the inspiration that led to the creation of the Queen's Beasts coin series. At Queen Elizabeth II's coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1953, ten sculptures of heraldic beasts (each one 6 feet tall) stood guard. The Canadian Museum of History in Quebec is now the home of these sculptures that had been created by the artist James Woodford. That same artist had also created stone replicas of the 10 beasts that can still be seen at the Kew Gardens in the UK.
An earlier generation of heraldic beasts had inspired Woodford to create the Queen's Beasts. These were the King’s Beasts of Henry VIII that had been commissioned in 1536 in order to celebrate the King's marriage to Jane Seymour. These original sculptures were unfortunately destroyed sometime during the late 17th century. However, recreations of them can still be seen at the Hampton Court Palace where they line the moat bridge.
The British Platinum Queen's Beasts are only available as brilliant uncirculated bullion coins in the single denomination of 1 oz. When the first "Lion of England" coin was released, it marked the first time for Britain's Royal Mint to issue a coin out of platinum.
Mintages
Mintage of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz Queen's Beasts platinum coins is not capped and according to the current market demand.
British Gold Queen's Beasts
The Royal Mint introduced the Queen's Beasts gold coins in 2016, just like the silver version of the coins. The first three coins of the series came out in rapid succession and displayed the Lion of England, the Griffin of Edward III and the Red Dragon of Wales. A total of 11 coin designs make up the Queen's Beasts series that saw their final two issues in September 2020 (the "White Greyhound of Richmond" issue) and April 2021 (the "Completer Coin" that shows all ten beasts together). The coins' gold purity is generally 99.99% (with the exception of some proof issues of the "Completer Coin"). Brilliant uncirculated coins were minted according to market demand in the sizes of 1 oz and 1/4 oz. Proof coins were mostly minted in the sizes of 1 kg, 5 oz, 1 oz and 1/4 oz and their mintage was capped.
The Gold Queen's Beast coin page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.
British Silver Queen's Beasts
The Royal Mint introduced the Queen's Beasts silver coins in 2016, just like the gold version of the coins. The design of the silver coins is identical to that of the gold coins and the first three coin designs displayed the Lion of England, the Griffin of Edward III and the Red Dragon of Wales in succession. The last two of a total of 11 issues of the British Silver Queen's Beasts came out in September 2020 (the "White Greyhound of Richmond" issue) and April 2021 (the "Completer Coin" that shows all ten beasts together). Brilliant uncirculated coins were minted according to market demand out of 99.99% fine silver in the two sizes of 2 oz and 10 oz. Proof coins of 99.9% purity were minted in the four sizes of 1 kg, 10 oz, 5 oz and 1 oz and their mintage numbers were capped.
The Silver Queen's Beast coin page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.