The Royal Mint’s Tudor Beasts welcomes the Bull of Clarence to its ranks, the fourth issue to date
Tudor Beast’s returns with the Bull of Clarence. The spiritual successor to the Royal Mint’s ‘Queen’s Beasts’ series, this is the fourth in a ten-coin, five-year series, made up of proof gold and silver coins in various formats, along with a smaller selection of bullion coins in the same two metals. While Queen’s Beats was designed by Jody Clark, Tudor Beats is the work of another Royal mint regular, David Lawrence.
While different to Clark’s work, this series has shown that Lawrence has no issue in matching that high standard, and we’ve been very impressed by the integrity and consistency of Tudor Beasts to date. The Bull of Clarence is another fine example of dynamic design, with the bull depicted dripping with power, and embracing the symbol he represents. Heraldry at its finest, it gets its message across to competing houses.
This is the first in the series to feature the effigy of King Charles III on its obverse, and this will obviously remain the case going forward. There are four gold (from 1/4 oz to 5 oz), and four silver (1 oz to 10 oz) coins in the range. Our press release made no mention of the kilo-class formats this time, but perhaps they will launch later. Our favourite of the range is the two-coin set, consisting of a 1 oz proof, and a 1 oz frosted finish, both silver. Some 500 of these sets will be made available for £195.00 each, which doesn’t seem too excessive.
Another terrific issue, all versions come boxed with a certificate of Authenticity, and a booklet packed with historical information. Prices have risen from the last issue, except for the one-ounce silver proof coin, for some strange reason. For the casual collector, there’s also a base-metal brilliant-uncirculated version in some attractive gatefold packaging, for just £14.50. All are available to buy now. Hopefully, we’ll get bullion images shortly.
PRESS RELEASE
The Royal Mint has today announced The Bull of Clarence as the latest beast to be commemorated in its Royal Tudor Beasts Collection. This is the first coin in The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection to feature the official effigy of His Majesty King Charles III.
The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection was unleashed by The Royal Mint in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for six sites including Hampton Court Palace – exploring the powerful Tudor dynasty and the infamous union between Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour.
Each coin in the collection has been designed by artist David Lawrence, with each design combining a unique balance of naturalistic elements with stylised, heraldic depictions.
The coin features the mighty Bull of Clarence holding a shield emblazoned with the Tudor Rose. The Tudor Rose signifies the marriage between Henry VIII and Elizabeth of York, uniting the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, said: “We are delighted to reveal the fourth coin in the ten-coin Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, which we launched in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces. We hope collectors are as excited as we are to commemorate our heritage by celebrating the ten beasts chosen by Henry VIII.
We have created each coin and its accompanying packaging in partnership with the experts at Historic Royal Palaces. The Bull of Clarence is a particularly exciting launch as it is the first coin in the collection to feature the official coinage portrait of His Majesty King Charles III.”
Jenny Smyth, Licensing Manager at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “We are thrilled to launch the next commemorative coin within The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection. The Bull of Clarence is an awe-inspiring beast, with an interesting provenance which, once more, The Royal Mint have brought to life – helping to share the stories of the palaces within our care with new audiences.”
Known for its representation of strength, power and wealth, the bull is one of the oldest animal symbols in the world. The Bull of Clarence was a mighty symbol associated with the House of York and is one of the noble beasts chosen by Henry VIII to flank the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace.
PROOF SPECIFICATION
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | WEIGHT | DIAMETER | LEP MINTAGE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 31.21 g | 38.61 mm | 5,000 | £99.50 |
| £5 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 62.42 g | 40.00 mm | 1,250 | £190.00 |
| £10 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 156.30 g | 65.00 mm | 250 | £480.00 |
| £10 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 312.59 g | 65.00 mm | 100 | £910.00 |
| £25 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 7.80 g | 22.0 mm | 650 | £725.00 |
| £100 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 31.21 g | 32.69 mm | 300 | £2,725.00 |
| £200 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 62.42 g | 40.00 mm | 60 | £5,215.00 |
| £500 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 156.30 g | 50.00 mm | 20 | £12,500.00 |
BULLION SPECIFICATION
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | WEIGHT | DIAMETER |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 62.42 g | 38.61 mm |
| £10 UKP | 0.999 SILVER | 311.035 g | 85.00 mm |
| £25 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 7.80 g | 22.00 mm |
| £100 UKP | 0.9999 GOLD | 32.69 g | 31.21 mm |
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