Queen’s Beasts is back with the White Lion of Mortimer returning to the big cats for heraldic inspiration

The Royal Mint’s beautiful Jody Clark-penned Queen’s Beasts series of ten British heraldic coins continues its march towards conclusion with the seventh proof release to date – the 2020 White Lion of Mortimer. The bullion variant isn’t covered here (we’re working on one of our Bullion Coin Profiles for them), but that one will actually constitute the eighth release in that sequence as it’s currently one ahead.

While some of the impact of this series has been lost through the inevitable familiarity of a series bound to a tight visual style, there’s little denying these are classically beautiful coins. The Lion has been seen before in this series, but this is a powerful interpretation, and the shield carrying the white rose en soleil (a white rose encircled by a golden sun), dates back to the Great Seals of Edward IV and Richard III. Unlike the Lion of England design, the muscular feline is without a crown.

The same range as before, with only an occasional tweak to mintages. Gold has risen in price quite a bit since the last issue, so prices here have also jumped. Last time around, the four gold coins ranged from £480 to £50,000 in price. That’s shot up to £530 to £60,000! Silver in contrast, remains the same at £85 to £2,025, as the cheaper metal has largely remained less energetic on the commodities market. Again, a base-metal coin with an unlimited mintage means those that
want the coin for its design can spend just £13 for it.

The presentation of all coins remains top notch, and all are provided with a certificate of authenticity. A real favourite here, this will finish up as a very collectable set of coins. All are available to order today from the Royal Mint website and from their worldwide dealer network. Some, like the ten-grand 5oz gold, have already sold out…

PRESS RELEASE

Today, The Royal Mint unleashes the White Lion of Mortimer as the seventh coin in The Queen’s Beasts collection. The White Lion of Mortimer is one of ten heraldic Beasts that form the Queen’s Beasts. Inspired by these ancient symbols of power and identity, the range brings to life the ten imposing statues that are part of an enduring legacy that define our ruling dynasties.

Lions are perhaps the most well-known symbols in heraldry and are often depicted as fearsome creatures. The White Lion of Mortimer is usually shown sitting with its tail between its legs, characterising traits of loyalty and discipline. Unlike the Lion of England, the White Lion is uncrowned, and its tongue and claws are blue as opposed to red.

Following the success of previous coins in the collection, the latest release features another original design by Royal Mint coin designer Jody Clark. Jody is best known for his ‘fifth portrait’ of The Queen seen on UK coinage series since 2015, but has also spent a great deal of time researching British heraldry to create his Queen’s Beasts designs.

Jody Clark says of his design, “During my initial sketches I quickly realised that a profile side view of this beast would be the most effective, mainly because of its tail and stance. The White Lion faces to the right, as does Her Majesty The Queen on the obverse, signifying the royal ancestry and history of the monarchy. It is portrayed differently to the Lion of England which faces head-on, ferocious and rampant, and the strong silhouette around the White Lion accentuates the prominent features of its tail, mane and shield. It was important that the lions were portrayed differently as they embody distinct and contrasting aspects of the history of the monarchy.”