Tudor Beasts #6 – The Queen’s Panther

The sixth release in The Royal Mint’s Tudor Beasts Series honors the marriage of King Henry VIII to Jane Seymour, his third wife. King Henry VIII’s marriage to Jane Seymour in 1536 occurred shortly after the execution of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, and represented a significant moment in the monarch’s tumultuous marital history. Unlike his previous marriages, this union was characterized by Jane’s demeanor as a more traditional and submissive consort, and she ultimately fulfilled Henry’s desperate desire for a male heir by giving birth to Prince Edward, who would later become King Edward VI.

The Queen’s Panther

For the reverse of the coins in the Queen’s Panther release, The Royal Mint shows off a seated, spotted panther supporting a shield with the combined arms of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. These symbols represent the union of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, as well as the monarchy itself.

The Tudor use of the panther as a heraldic symbol is particularly interesting in medieval English iconography, though less commonly discussed than symbols like the Tudor rose or Welsh dragon. In Tudor heraldry, the panther was often depicted as “incensed” – shown with flames coming from its mouth and ears – and was typically portrayed spotted or multicolored, representing the various virtues and qualities of the monarch. The symbolism of the panther in Tudor imagery drew from medieval bestiaries, where the creature was associated with sweet breath that could attract prey (except dragons) and was often interpreted as a symbol of Christ, though this religious symbolism became less emphasized during the Tudor period in favor of more secular interpretations of strength and nobility.

Accompanying the panther in a shield with combined emblems of the Tudor Dynasty under King Henry VIII and the Seymour Family. During his marriage to Jane Seymour (1536-1537), Henry VIII’s royal arms maintained the core design he had used since becoming king in 1509, featuring the traditional quartered shield that displayed the three lions passant guardant of England in the first and fourth quarters, and the fleurs-de-lis of France in the second and third quarters, reflecting England’s historical claim to the French throne. Henry VIII incorporated symbolism from the Seymour family, whose ancestral coat of arms featured a distinctive design of two angel’s wings conjoined in lure and displayed, commonly depicted in gold on a red background (described in heraldic terms as “gules, two wings conjoined in lure or”). This relatively simple yet striking heraldic design reflected the family’s status as part of the English gentry before their dramatic rise to prominence through Jane’s marriage to Henry VIII. The wings motif was a long-standing symbol of the Seymour lineage, which had its roots in St. Maur, Normandy, and had been established in Wiltshire since the 13th century.

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If you have any questions about the Queens Panther or the Tudor Beasts Series, please feel free to ask. JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508, online using our web chat, and via our email address.