UK bullion · Storage guide
Best storage options for the Queen's Beasts and Tudor Beasts coins
The Royal Mint's Queen's Beasts series ran from 2016 to 2021: ten heraldic beasts, one per coin, followed by a Completer coin uniting all ten. The core coin is the 2 oz silver, which is high relief and needs our deep 2 oz capsule. The 1 oz gold and 1 oz platinum coins are 32.69 mm and take the H32 direct fit, and the 1/4 oz gold is 22 mm and takes the A22 direct fit. The Tudor Beasts 2 oz silver coins share the same deep capsule.
2 oz Silver Queen's Beast, all 11 designs (38.61 mm, high relief)
1 oz Gold Queen's Beast (32.69 mm)
1 oz Platinum Queen's Beast (32.69 mm)
1/4 oz Gold Queen's Beast (22 mm)
2 oz Silver Tudor Beast (38.6 mm, high relief)
Queen's Beast specifications, designs and mintages
Every figure links to its source. Primary sources are mint publications and Freedom of Information responses. Secondary sources are Wikipedia, catalogues and dealers, used only where no primary figure is published. Where sources disagree we show both.
Specifications and the capsule that fits
| Size | Years | Diameter | Thickness | Weight | Fineness | Capsule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2oz silver (£5) | 2016 to 2021 | 38.61 mm | — | 62.42 g | .9999 | H2oz direct fit | [1][2] High relief, so it needs a deeper capsule than a standard 1oz silver coin. |
| 1oz gold (£100) | 2016 to 2021 | 32.69 mm | — | 31.21 g | .9999 | H-32 direct fit | [3][2] |
| ¼oz gold (£25) | 2016 to 2021 | 22.00 mm | — | 7.8 g | .9999 | A-22 direct fitThe same 22mm as the ¼oz gold Britannia, which we keep in this direct fit ourselves. [2] | [2][4] |
| 1oz platinum (£100) | Series | 32.69 mm | — | 31.21 g | .9995 | H-32 direct fit | [4] |
| 10oz silver (£10) | Series | 85.00 mm | — | 311.035 g | .9999 | Use the finder | [4][5] BullionByPost gives 89.15mm. |
Designs
| Year | Design | Designer | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Lion of England | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2017 | Griffin of Edward III | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2017 | Red Dragon of Wales | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2018 | Unicorn of Scotland | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2018 | Black Bull of Clarence | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2019 | Falcon of the Plantagenets | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2019 | Yale of Beaufort | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2020 | White Lion of Mortimer | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2020 | White Horse of Hanover | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2021 | White Greyhound of Richmond | Jody Clark | [5][2] |
| 2021 | The Completer: all ten beasts around the Queen | Jody Clark | [1] |
Key facts and key dates
- The ten beasts are the heraldic statues that stood guard at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. [3]
- The 2oz silver Queen's Beast was the first 2oz United Kingdom silver bullion coin. [2]
- Engraver Jody Clark designed the entire Queen's Beasts series. [2][1]
- The Completer, issued in April 2021, is the only coin to show all ten beasts together with the monarch they represent. [1][2]
- The first Lion bullion coins sold out on release and were not available again until mid-June 2016. [2]
- Sources agree on each beast's release year but differ on the order within 2017, 2018 and 2019. [2][5]
- The Completer was also struck in 2kg and 10kg gold; the 10kg coin was reported as the heaviest gold coin the Royal Mint had produced. [2]
- Queen's Beasts bullion coins are exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. [1]
1oz gold Queen's Beasts bullion struck (to August 2017)
Download this data as a spreadsheet: queen-s-beast.csv
Sources
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2021 2oz silver bullion coin Primary
- Wikipedia: The Queen's Beasts (coin) Secondary
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2021 gold 1oz bullion coin Primary
- AgAuNEWS: Queen's Beasts (2016 to 2021) by The Royal Mint Secondary
- BullionByPost: the Queen's Beasts series Secondary
- Royal Mint FOI response: gold coin mintage (2017) Primary
- Royal Mint FOI response: bullion mintages (27 May 2022) Primary
Frequently asked questions
What size capsule fits the Queen's Beast?
The Queen's Beast comes in these sizes and matching capsules: 2 oz Silver Queen's Beast, all 11 designs (38.61 mm, high relief); 1 oz Gold Queen's Beast (32.69 mm); 1 oz Platinum Queen's Beast (32.69 mm); 1/4 oz Gold Queen's Beast (22 mm); 2 oz Silver Tudor Beast (38.6 mm, high relief). Match the capsule’s inside diameter to your coin.
What is the best way to store a Queen's Beast?
A standard 1 oz silver capsule will not close over the 2 oz Queen's Beast because of its high relief, so use the deep 2 oz capsule. Collecting the full set? The 2 oz capsule stacks in our Model H storage tube, which holds 15 of them, enough for all 11 Queen's Beasts designs with room to spare. A PVC-free acrylic capsule, either direct fit or black ring, protects the coin from handling, dust and air.
Still measuring up? Try the capsule finder to match your coin in a couple of clicks, browse the coin size guide by diameter, or filter the full capsule range by size and holder type. Buy 20 of any capsule and a matching storage tube is added free.
Browse more guides on the storage guides index.