When Her Majesty The Queen was crowned in 1953, ten statues lined the entrance to Westminster Abbey. Each beast represented the heraldry of the new queen, symbols of the monarchs in whose footsteps she walked. The Queen’s Beasts have since been brought to life in a series of coins, designed by the man behind the latest definitive coinage portrait of The Queen – Royal Mint coin designer Jody Clark
The series began with the proud and ferocious Lion of England but the White Lion of Mortimer, the latest release in the collection, is a very different animal. To represent loyalty and discipline, the uncrowned White Lion is seated with its tail tucked between its legs. This Lion represents The Queen’s Yorkist heritage. First used by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March (1328–60), a founder Knight of the Order of the Garter. The White Lion of Mortimer passed to the House of York and was used by both Richard II and Edward IV.
This design highlights the White Lion’s mane, tail and shield, as they convey important aspects of his story. The badge on the Lion’s shield bears the white rose of York with the sun’s golden rays – a symbol adopted by Edward IV, who saw the sun as a sign of good luck in battle.
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