2021 Platinum Great Britain Queen's Beasts (White Lion) - 1 oz

2021 1oz Platinum Queens Beasts White Lion of Mortimer

The Royal Mint has once again proven its impeccable dedication to producing British coinage that faithfully represents the nation's rich heritage. Eighth in the immensely popular ten‑coin Queen's Beasts series, The White Lion of Mortimer was designed for the British Royal Mint by the highly respected engraver, Jody Clark. As with the seven previous releases, the intricate detail captured on the image is truly awesome! This magnificent 2021 1oz Platinum Queens Beasts White Lion of Mortimer edition contributes greatly to the centuries of British heritage represented in the 10 original painted plaster statues of 1953.

Minted in high-relief with highest purity and 1 oz weight, this platinum edition bullion coin series has become a highly treasured favorite among collectors and precious metals investors worldwide. The coin's obverse displays Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the 100 pounds face value. Quite interestingly, the Queen's portrait was also designed by Jody Clark and adopted into British coinage since 2016. The background pattern features the Royal Mint's guilloché texture design.

The Heraldic White Lion of Mortimer

The image of the White Lion of Mortimer is distinctively presented with a regal fierceness. Depicted upright in a seated, right-facing profile, its powerful muscular bulk fills the coin's center. In a full growl, and with its mane wildly tossed, this handsome design is truly worthy. The lion grasps the shield in its right paw, claws exposed. The white rose displayed in the center of the sun depicts the White Lion of Mortimer's lineage. Inscriptions encircling the rim include, "WHITE LION OF MORTIMER . 1 OZ . FINE PLATINUM 999.5 . 2021."

Highlights

• 2021 1oz Platinum Queens Beasts White Lion of Mortimer.
• This Platinum coin contains 1 troy oz of 999.5 fine platinum.
• Struck in high-relief.
• Obverse: Displays Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, against the Royal Mint's stunning guilloché obverse pattern. Inscriptions include "ELIZABETH II . D. G. REG. F. D." and the 100 pounds face value.
• Reverse: Features the heraldic detailed image representing the White Lion of Mortimer, the date, and the coin's weight and purity.
• 100 pounds face value.
• Sovereign coin backed by the British government.

History

The Queen's Beasts are ten heraldic statues depicting the genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II. The statues were created by the British sculptor James Woodford in 1953 for the Queen's coronation, and temporarily set up in front of the western annex to Westminster Abbey, the coronation church of the British monarchy. Today, the almost 2‑meter high painted plaster figures are on display in the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.

As noted by the mint,"The White Lion came to The Queen through Edward IV who inherited the creature from his grandmother, heiress of the Mortimers. Although Edward sometimes used the White Lion as a supporter of his Royal Arms, unlike the Lion of England the White Lion of Mortimer has no crown and its tongue and claws are blue rather than red. In heraldry lions are often 'rampant', standing with forepaws raised, but the Lion of Mortimer is often shown sitting rather like a tamed dog with its tail between its legs.

The White Lion of The Queen's Beasts holds a Yorkist shield of blue and 'murrey' or mulberry colour with a 'white rose en soleil', a white rose on a golden sun, combining emblems that were used by both Edward IV and Richard III. It was a badge used by George VI, The Queen's father, when he was Duke of York."