Una and Lion Coin to Celebrate the Bicentenary of the Birth of Queen Victoria – Now Available in Cupro Nickel
This year marks 200 years since the birth of Queen Victoria, one of the United Kingdom’s most iconic monarchs. Her reign coincided with the great age of industrial revolution, and her captivating life story continues to inspire people today. To mark this anniversary, we have recreated the popular 1839 design created by numismatic sculptor William Wyon. We could think of no better subject for a coin than the subject that was produced near the beginning of her reign; therefore, by popular demand, Pobjoy Mint is excited to announce the 2019 design of the Una and the Lion Uncirculated Cupro Nickel coin.
The theme for the coin was drawn from Edmund Spenser’s poem “The Faerie Queene” (1596), which tells the tale of Princess Una following the princess after St. George had slain the dragon and rescued her. During the course of their travels, Una met a lion who was so mesmerized by her beauty he became her companion and protector. For the design, Una was modeled on the 19-year-old Queen Victoria and shows Una, representing truth and purity gracefully pointing the way forward with the lion beside her. The lion passant gardant is an ancient symbol of Britain.
The wording ‘DIEU ET MON DROIT’ meaning ‘God and my right’ the motto of the British Monarch, appears in the surround of the coin with the year 2019 – MMXIX – Shown in Roman numerals beneath the plinth on which Una & the Lion stand.
It is particularly apt that this coin is being issued on behalf of the Government of the British Virgin Islands as, during the reign of Queen Victoria, the harvesting of salt was one an annual tradition on Salt Island. The residents would gather once a year to harvest the salt from the lake and it became customary for the Administrator of the Virgin Islands and later the Government of the Virgin Islands to send one pound of salt to the Monarch on their birthday. This tradition disappeared but in 2015 the tradition was renewed and for the first time in many years a pound of salt from the Virgin Islands was presented to the Sovereign.
The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who is the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, produced exclusively for Pobjoy Mint.
Coin Specifications
Presentation
The Cupro Nickel Diamond Finish Coin comes in capsules in a brown tube. Pobjoy Mint blue pouches are available at an additional cost.
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