The 2020 Lion of Mortimer Proof 1oz gold coin is the eighth of a series of ten from the "Queen's Beasts" range of Royal Mint coins. These are ten statues which stood guard outside Westminster Abbey for the Queen's Coronation, sculpted by J. Woodford RA in 1953.
The coin is 24-carat (or 999.9 purity) and contains one ounce of gold. Just like other British currency, this coin is exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Both the obverse and reverse are designed by the Royal Mint's Jody Clark.
The White Lion of Mortimer is another beast inherited by the Queen from Edward IV of the House of York, and it was a favoured symbol of King George VI - Queen Elizabeth II's father - prior to his coronation.
The Mortimer lion has no crown and has a blue tongue. This lion also sits, rather than rearing up, and holds a Yorkist shield bearing a 'white rose en soleil' (golden sun) on a half-and-half background.
The Queen's Beasts statues are still standing, but are currently housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec. Stone replicas can be found at Kew Gardens.
This coin contains one troy ounce of pure 999.9 gold. As with other coins from The Royal Mint, it is considered legal tender and is therefore exempt from Capital Gains Tax. It will also be VAT-free as investment gold.
This Proof one ounce (31.1g) coin is presented in a handsome presentation box and comes with a certificate of authenticity and full colour booklet.