Gold proof 5oz Una and the Lion Great Engravers coin from The Royal Mint.
William Wyon's Una And The Lion
Said to be one of the most beautiful coins in the world, the 'Una and the Lion' gold Five Pound was originally struck in 1839. These historic coins achieve spectacular prices when they come to the market but why were they issued? And who's Una?
This gold Five Pound was designed to be part of the first specimen set, issued during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was created by an artist at the height of his powers: William Wyon, then Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint.
In an interesting move he choose to depict the young queen - then still in her twenties - as a character from an epic poem called The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spencer. The reverse of the Five Pound shows Victoria in the guise of Lady Una guiding a lion who represents England. This was paired with Wyon's 'Young Head' portrait of the Queen to the obverse.
The Royal Mint's Great Engravers
Like other famous coinage designs by William Wyon, original Una and the Lion coins are hard to get hold of. Now, this famed design is available to a wider audience with The Royal Mint's Great Engravers series.
This collection takes inspiration from the past, reproducing great British coinage designs using 21st century production techniques to remaster historic dies.
The series so far featured hi-lights from William Wyon's career, starting with Una in 2019 then moving on to an earlier design, his Three Graces, created in 1817 for a pattern coin. 2021 saw the first in a two part release celebrating Wyon's 1847 Gothic Crown. All of these reissues have been phenomenally successful, prompting similar releases from the East India Company as well as much speculation about the next release.
Buy A Gold 5oz Una And The Lion Coin
The Royal Mint issued Una and the Lion coins in a range of metals and denominations in 2019. The most exclusive and coveted, of course, were the gold coins, offered in extremely limited numbers.
Just 65 gold five ounce UK Una and the Lion coins were issued in 2019.
The 5oz coin is composed of 156.30 grams of 24 carat (999.9) gold. This piece has a diameter of 50.00 millimetres and a face value of £500 / Five Hundred Pounds. The value appears on the obverse alongside a portrait of Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
This scarce example comes in its original presentation packaging and capsule from The Royal Mint with a numbered certificate of authenticity enclosed.
Sell Your Una And The Lion Coin
We're interested in buying 2019 Una and the Lion coins in gold and silver as well as other limited edition coins in the Great Engravers series. Visit our Sell Your Coins page for more info on how to get a personalised quote for your collectibles that puts cash in your hands fast.
Steeped in more than 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint supplies all of the United Kingdom's coinage as well as currency for nations around the world. Renown for craftsmanship and thoughtful design, The Royal Mint also produces commemorative coins, favoured by investors and collectors.
A Millennia of Minting
Founded in the reign of Alfred the Great, around the year 886, The Royal Mint was originally one of several mints which were centralised to London in 1279. For more than 800 years the Mint was based at the Tower of London before moving to Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s.
The Royal Mint has always been on the forefront of economic, technical and artistic innovation. Its skilled craftsmen minted coins that would reach the far corners of the British Empire, establishing the image and reputation of Britain for all whose pockets they ended up in.
In 2010 The Royal Mint became a limited company owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury. In recent years the Mint has struck medals for the 2012 London Olympic Games and opened a visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, in Llantrisant, Wales: the current home of The Royal Mint.
Collecting and Investing
The Royal Mint's commemorative and bullion coins – often minted to mark important national events and anniversaries – are not intended for circulation. They might look like ordinary coins but they are generally worth much more, thanks to their scarcity, finish and composition.
Most commemorative coins produced by The Royal Mint are available in a range of striking standards including Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated and Bullion. Some are also available in collectors sets. Gold and Silver Proof coins are minted in small numbers, making them rare and desirable.
The Royal Mint's commemorative coins are both VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt, making them an attractive and valuable investment. Whether you are diversifying your investments or simply appreciate world-class design, commemorative coins from The Royal Mint are a great buy.
The Royal Mint at The Britannia Coin Company
The Britannia Coin Company is proud to stock official commemorative coins from The Royal Mint as well as a wide range of historic Royal Mint coinage. We offer unbeatable value on The Royal Mint coins, backed by our reputation for honesty and integrity, built over more than a decade of trading.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
You're guaranteed a fully protected service when you buy online with The Britannia Coin Company. Our payment process is fully encrypted, preventing unauthorised access to your personal and financial details. Check your browser bar for the trusted padlock symbol: it's a mark of security.
Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Message us using our live chat feature (that's the green button, found at the bottom right of this page).
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 7AB (we recommend checking our location map before you set out).
