Today's coin reveal post features the 2oz .9999 Silver 2016 Lion of England Coin struck by The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom.
This coin is from the "Queen's Beasts" series, of which the Lion of England is the first of ten coin designs struck by the Royal Mint for this exciting series.
1. Coin Story
I bought this coin recently on one of the silver forums that I use to source collectible and bullion coins.
I have followed the Queen's Beasts series for a few years now, but this is the first coin from the series that has come into my possession. In the past the premium that these coins attract is what caused me to be a little hesitant. I also thought that I am already in the process of completing other collections from other mints, I am not sure it is wise to start collecting a new series.
The coin up close is beautiful, I have tried to capture that detail for you in my photos. The diameter of the coin is about the same as a standard 1oz coin, but the thickness of this coin is about double that of a 1oz coin. This is a nice unique feature of this coin and it feels great in your hand, because it is a nice chunky silver coin.
I may have caught the Queen's Beasts bug and might need to keep my eyes open for the other coins in the series... only for the right price though. 馃
2. Coin Packaging
When purchasing single coins from the mint they were delivered in a plastic coin capsule or flip, which could be chosen when ordering online.
For larger orders in bulk the coins were delivered in sealed plastic tubes. Due to the thickness of these 2oz coins there were only 10 coins per tube, still with a total of 20oz per tube.
For buyers that were interested in buying a whole box of these coins, they would have received 20 tubes per box, for a total of 400oz per box.
3. Coin Details
a. Mintage
The maximum mintage of this 2oz coin was unlimited. I have been unable to find out if there was ever a declared mintage for this coin.
b. Purity
The purity of this 2oz coin is .9999 fine silver.
c. Details
| Mint/Brand: | The Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Silver Content: | 2 Troy Ounces |
| Purity: | .9999 Fine Silver |
| Denomination: | 拢5 (United Kingdom) |
| Year of Issue: | 2016 |
| Edge: | Milled |
| Diameter: | 38.61mm |
| Weight: | 62.2g |
| Maximum Mintage: | Unlimited |
4. Coin Design
a. Reverse Design
The reverse of the 2oz coin depicts the Lion of England grasping the Royal Coat of Arms Shield set against a chain mail background.
The design by Jody Clark includes an inscription 'LION OF ENGLAND', the coin weight '2oz', the purity 'FINE SILVER 999.9' and the date '2016'.
The designer's initials, JC, are positioned below and to the right of the Royal Coat of Arms Shield.
a. Obverse Design
The obverse of the coin portrays the Jody Clark effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the words 'ELIZABETH II', 'D路G路REG路F路D' and the denomination of '5 POUNDS'.
Conclusion:
In summary, these are great coins and very collectible. I have known about their popularity for a number of years now, but now that I have one in my possession I can see why they have proven to be so in demand on the secondary market.
I will continue to keep my eye out for more coins from this series. If I can find them for the right price I will pick them up, but I am in no major rush to complete the series, so I will be patient and ensure I do not pay to high a premium.
What are your thoughts of these coins and their design? Have you seen the other coins in the series? If so, which design is your favourite and which one should I search for next? 馃榿
Post authored by @strenue
