The Royal Mint’s ‘British Myths & Legends’ series has been issued in waves of three designs, each trio featuring a particular tale from British history. The first trilogy was Robin Hood, and the second, King Arthur’s Camelot. Now it’s time for the latest story, and we’re drawn back to Anglo-Saxon times for the epic tale, Beowulf.

“Beowulf,” an epic poem of Old English origin, chronicles the heroic exploits of its titular protagonist. Written by an anonymous poet, it highlights Beowulf’s valorous battles against three monstrous foes – Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon, all of which we suspect will be depicted on coins. Rooted in themes of heroism, loyalty, and fate, the poem provides a window into Anglo-Saxon culture, embodying the ideals of courage and honour amidst the struggles against formidable adversaries.

This coin, and we suspect the next two, are designed by Royal Mint regular, David Lawrence, and he’s done a good job capturing that almost woodcut style of the period. We like this one, and it makes a nice detour from the character-focused style of previous series, choosing the story itself to be illustrated.

At present, we’ve only seen 1oz silver and 1oz gold variants, although we suspect a 10oz silver will rear its head soon. A good start to the latest trilogy, and available to order shortly.