One of the most exciting new programs from the Royal Mint in London is the Queen’s Beast Collection. This 10-coin offering from one of the world’s oldest minting facilities includes new designs each year, all representative of the creatures captured in statue form during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Today, the 2017 1 oz British Queen’s Beast Griffin Gold Coin is available from JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- Arrives in a protective plastic flip, tubes of 10, or Monster Boxes of 100 coins.
- 2nd release in the Queen’s Beast Series!
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure gold in BU condition.
- Face value of £100 (GBP) is fully backed by Britain’s government.
- Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.
- Griffin of King Edward III on the reverse.
- Designs from Jody Clark.
In July 2015, Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark developed the first new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II for British coinage since the 1998 right-profile portrait from Ian Rank-Broadley. Clark, just 33 years old, became the youngest engraver to complete a portrait of the Queen for the Royal Mint and has also been tasked with the creation of the Queen’s Beast imagery.
The Queen’s Beast collection features a total of 10 designs, with releases scheduled to run through 2021. For 2017-2020, there will be two designs released each year, with one apiece from 2016 and in 2021. The Griffin of Edward III is the second release, and features the most powerful of mythical beasts.
On the reverse of the 2017 1 oz British Queen’s Beast Griffin Gold Coin is the image of the Griffin, standing behind the shield of Edward III and clutching it with its two front claws. A Griffin is a mythical beast rumored to be the most powerful, possessing the body of a lion (king of beasts) and the head and wings of an eagle (king of the birds).
The obverse includes the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as referenced above. Her Majesty ascended to the British throne in 1952 following the death of her father, the king. Her coronation ceremony was held in 1953 and included 10 plaster statues of Queen’s Beasts. Every 2017 British Queen’s Beast Griffin design is available on a 2 oz silver bullion coin, ¼ oz gold bullion coin, and this 2017 1 oz British Queen’s Beast Griffin Gold Coin.
Each 2017 1 oz British Queen’s Beast Griffin Gold Coin available here today is in BU condition. Coins in BU condition show no signs of wear and tear, though you may notice minor flaws such as breaks in the luster, spotted surfaces, and contact marks.
Please direct your questions regarding the Queen’s Beast Griffin Gold Coin to JM Bullion’s customer service team. We’re available at 800-276-6508, online using our live web chat, and via our email address.