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The Royal Mint of Great Britain (hereinafter - the Mint) issued a huge gold coin dedicated to the Queen's Beasts series. This is the largest coin in 1,100 years of Mint history. Its weight is 10 kg, and its diameter is 20 cm. Coinage took 400 hours of working time, including 96 hours - to polish. The denomination of a coin made in only one copy is 10 thousand pounds. The giant coin was the last element of the series of commemorative coins of the Queen's Beasts. The coin depicts ten animals whose statues "accompanied" the queen at Westminster Abbey during the coronation in 1953.
The coin has already been sold. The mint did not provide details about its buyer and the price for which this masterpiece was purchased.
Special process of coin production
The coin was created by a team of Mint masters who used traditional coinage skills along with innovative technologies. At the beginning of the production process, engraving machines were involved, which carefully cut out the drawing on it. Then the masters manually removed all inaccuracies and irregularities. The surface was then laser treated to create a texture.
Claire McLennan, director of the Mint's commemorative coin department, said the following: "We are pleased to issue the largest coin in UK history to celebrate the completion of the Queen's Beast commemorative coin series. This coin sets a new standard for the quality of minting, combining centuries-old skills with innovative technologies, testifying to the great experience and skill of our team. "
Coin History
The series was inspired by 10 two-meter sculptures, the images of which are taken from the heraldry of Britain. The sculptures were created on the occasion of the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 and placed in Westminster Abbey. The Queen's Beasts coin collection showcases the heraldic animals of Great Britain: The Lion of England, the Unicorn of Scotland, Edward III's Griffin, the Plantagenet Falcon, the White Lion of Mortimer, the Black Bull of Clarence, Yale Beauforts, the White Borzai of Richmond, the red Dragon of Conmon. On the reverse of a 10-pound coin you can see all these animals together.