2019-02-11 Mon

Pobjoy Mint released a special set of two silver coins featuring Una and the Lion. The coins are available in Proof as well as Reverse Frosted finishes. The popular 1839 Una & the Lion design is featured on the reverse side. The original design was created by famous 19th-century numismatic sculptor William Wyon.

It’s inspired from Edmund Spenser’s 1590 poem “The Faerie Queene” which talks about Princess Una after St. George had killed the dragon to save her. Una meets a lion that was impressed by her beauty, and eventually becomes her friend and saviour. On the coin, Una looks like a 19-year-old Queen Victoria walking ahead, as the lion walks beside her. The lion passant guardant has been a symbol of Britain since ancient times. Other texts include the motto of the British monarch, ‘DIEU ET MON DROIT’, which translates to ‘God and my Right’ and 2019 – MMXIX, shown in Roman numerals. The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, exclusively produced for Pobjoy Mint.

The coin is issued for the British Virgin Islands. Salt was harvested annually as a tradition on Salt Island during the reign of Queen Victoria. Even today, the Administrator of the Virgin Islands and later the Government of the Virgin Islands sends one pound of salt to the Monarch on their birthday. In 2015, this tradition was revived after many years.

The.999 Silver Bullion coin weighs 31.103 grams while the .925 Sterling Silver coin weighs 28.28 grams. Both coins have a diameter of 38.60 millimetres and a mintage limit of 500 pieces. Every coin comes in an acrylic capsule, which is placed inside a red set box with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Image Courtesy: Pobjoy Mint