2021 10oz Silver Coin, The White Lion of Mortimer - Queen's Beast

This 10oz silver White Lion of Mortimer is the eighth bullion coin produced of a series of ten from the "Queen's Beasts" range of Royal Mint coins. These coins are based on the ten statues which stood guard outside Westminster Abbey for the Queen's Coronation, sculpted by J.Woodford RA in 1953.

The coin is 999.9 purity silver and contains exactly ten ounces of fine silver. 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.

Learn more about The Royal Mint Queen's Beast series, including future releases.