2017 Great Britain Queen's Beast (Griffin) 2 oz Silver Coin

The 2017 Queen's Beasts Griffin Silver coin is the second 2 oz Silver British Bullion coin from the Royal Mint, the first one being the Queen’s Beast Lion. This magnificent series from the Royal Mint presents the ten heraldic beasts; the Lion of England, the Griffin of Edward III, the Red Dragon of Wales, the Black Bull of Clarence, the Falcon of the Plantagenets, the Yale of Beaufort, the White Lion Mortimer, the White Horse of Hanover, the Unicorn of Scotland. These coins represent the genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II; it was these ten beasts that stood guard at the Queen’s coronation. Each of this Queen’s Beasts supports a badge of arms of a family associated with the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II.

At the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen, 10 heraldic beasts stood guard. The original Queen’s Beasts, sculpted by James Woodford RA for the coronation ceremony held in Westminster Abbey in 1953, each stand six feet tall. The heraldic creatures symbolized the various strands of royal ancestry brought together in a young woman about to be crowned queen. Each proud beast, used as a heraldic badge by generations that went before her, was inspired by the King’s Beasts of Henry VIII that still line the bridge over the moat at his Hampton Court Palace.

Today, The Queen’s Beasts can be found at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, while Portland stone replicas, also carved by James Woodford, watch over Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. But these mythical, ancient creatures such as the lion, griffin, falcon, bull, yale, greyhound, dragon, unicorn and horse have gone on to inspire the highly-praised new talent, Royal Mint Coin Designer Jody Clark.

The griffin of Edward III Queen's Beast is an ancient mythical beast. It was considered a beneficent creature, signifying courage and strength combined with guardianship, vigilance, swiftness and keen vision. It was closely associated with Edward III who engraved it on his private seal. The shield shows the Round Tower of Windsor Castle, where Edward III was born, with the Royal Standard flying from the turret, enclosed by two branches of oak surmounted by the royal crown.

The griffin is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and an eagle's talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of birds, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. The griffin was also thought of as king of all creatures. Griffins are known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions.

Coin Highlights

• Coin contains 2 troy ounces of .9999 fine silver.
• This is sovereign coin approved by the Royal Mint.
• Coin comes in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
• Manufacturer: The British Royal Mint.
• Face Value - 5 Pounds.
• Obverse: Depicts the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, also inscribed face value.
• Reverse: Showcases the powerful griffin clutching a shield with its claws, its wings spread to the sky.
• Extraordinary coin design.
• Each coin comes in a protective plastic flip.