The Royal Mint continues to celebrate the historic link between the UK and the US with its latest The Lion and the Eagle bullion range

The Royal Mint has been knocking it out of the park of late, with a succession of excellent bullion designs, including an outstanding Count Dracula, the continuation of the Tudor Beasts, and a range of various bars. The latest to join that impressive line-up is the third annual issue in the mint’s celebration of the cultural relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, called ‘The Lion and the Eagle’, showcasing their wildlife personifications.

The series debuted in 2024, and the design of that coin was used again for the 2025 issue. It was created by numismatic American legend, John Mercanti, and leant into his formal, more heraldic style. For the 2026 coin, a British artist and Royal Mint regular, Jonathan Olliffe, was employed, and he has created something very different. The artwork here is very dynamic, with both animals alert and outward looking. It’s something both nations are known for, and the design perfectly encapsulates that nature. Very impressive.

The earlier issues encompassed six formats, but so far, only four of them have been made available for this 2026 release. Gold (0.9999) comes in the traditional 1oz and 1/4oz formats, easily the most popular, and silver launches with 1oz and 1/2oz variants. The 2025 coin also came in a 5oz silver and a 1/10oz gold. I’d expect them to appear, especially the more affordable gold coin, given that metal’s meteoric rise of late. The 1/2oz silver is unusual for the Royal Mint’s bullion portfolio, but again, the rise in the price of silver means we might be seeing more of this variant in future bullion ranges. Overall, a very fine issue, and one that is available to pre-order now, with shipping in January.