Una & the Lion

Celebrating our heroine Una, an iconic symbol of beauty and honour, and her majestic protector – the lion, the 2021 Una and the Lion 1oz Gold Proof coin features a beautiful new design by engraver Glyn Davies. The 2021 powerful and dramatic design highlights the beauty of Una and the raw power of the lion.

The story of Una and the Lion is the allegorical creation of celebrated English poet Edmund Spencer, author of The Faerie Queen in 1590. The iconic pair first featured on a British coin in 1837 with the issue of Queen Victoria’s majestic £5 gold piece and have long been considered symbols of beauty, strength and honour. Una is a beautiful princess whose parents and kingdom are captured by a ferocious dragon. She sets out on a quest to free them from the dragon’s clutches, taking her on an epic journey of battles, adventure and romance. During her quest, she faces many challenges that test her humility and determination, including being confronted by a fierce lion. The lion is so taken by her beauty and purity that he abandons his attack on her, becoming her protector and loyal companion. Una enlists the help of a knight to help her slay the Dragon. Steadfast and true to her cause, Una’s virtues inspire the knight to slay the dragon and fulfil his destiny as the hero St George, the Patron Saint of England.

Obverse
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the “Fifth Portrait” worldwide but “Sixth Portrait” in Australia, where the Queen’s portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).

The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen’s Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.

Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is “uncouped” (includes the Queen’s shoulders) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.

The artist’s initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below the left.

Around the effigy is the monarch’s legend and the date: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II · D · G · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS ·

Reverse
The reverse of the coin shows the mythical heroine Una walking together with the lion; she wears a long dress and a billowing cloak and holds a spear in her right hand. The lion is in an aggressive stance with his teeth bared and his terrific full mane flowing.

Around the above left, the inscription · UNA AND THE LION ·; around below, the date of issue · 2021 ·.

Below right in the rim, is the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated.

Reverse Inscription · UNA AND THE LION · · 2021 ·