5 pounds – The White Lion of Mortimer

Our popular Queen’s Beasts Collection continues with the release of the latest bullion coin, featuring the White Lion of Mortimer. This is the second lion in the collection but the White Lion is a very different beast to the rampant, ferocious Lion of England that began the series, both designed by Royal Mint coin designer Jody Clark. This lion, seated with his tail tucked away, represents loyalty and discipline, which were important characteristics to the monarchs that have gone before Her Majesty The Queen. The heraldic beasts first ‘came to life’ at The Queen’s coronation in 1953. Ten imposing statues lined her entrance to Westminster Abbey, each one standing guard to represent her ancestors. The White Lion of Mortimer represents The Queen’s Yorkist heritage, first used by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March (1328–60), a founder Knight of the Order of the Garter. His White Lion passed to the House of York and was used by both Richard II and Edward IV. Today, the symbolic beasts are reimagined on our coins, powerful and prestigious, and designed by the man who created the latest definitive coinage portrait of The Queen, which features on the obverse of this coin. Jody Clark has highlighted the Lion’s mane, tail and shield, which are the most important aspects of his story. The badge on the Lion’s shield bears the white rose of York with the sun’s golden rays – a symbol adopted by Edward IV, who saw the sun as a sign of good luck in battle. This bullion coin from The Queen’s Beasts Collection is also available as a one ounce and quarter-ounce gold edition.