Prices are fetched automatically and may not reflect current merchant prices. Currency conversions and tax treatment are approximate. Rankings are based solely on price. We are not a dealer and accept no responsibility for transactions with listed merchants. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This site does not provide investment advice. Full disclaimer
About the Queen's Beasts Gold
A Completed Gold Series with Lasting Collector and Investment Appeal
The Queen's Beasts gold coins were issued by The Royal Mint between 2016 and 2021, celebrating the ten heraldic beasts represented as plaster statues at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Each coin depicts a different beast, with the series concluding in an eleventh "Completer Coin" that gathered all ten animals on a single design. The series is now finished, and no further issues will be produced.
For gold buyers, the completed status of Queen's Beasts creates a fixed supply. Bullion versions had no mintage cap during their production years, but once each design's run ended, the supply was locked. This distinguishes Queen's Beasts from ongoing series like the Gold Britannia or Gold Maple Leaf, where new coins enter the market every year. The secondary market is the only source, and premiums on earlier releases have drifted upward since 2021.
All Queen's Beasts gold coins are struck from 999.9 fine gold, matching the purity of the Britannia and exceeding the 916.7 fineness of the Gold Krugerrand and Gold Sovereign. Two sizes were produced for the gold bullion range: 1oz and 1/4oz. A 1oz gold bar version also exists. As UK legal tender, they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents, giving them the same tax advantage as the Britannia and Royal Arms.
The designer of all ten reverse faces was Jody Clark, The Royal Mint's engraver who also created the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Each coin shows a stylised heraldic beast holding a shield bearing the royal arms or dynastic badge it represents. The series traces the Queen's ancestry through heraldic symbols, from the Lion of England (Richard I) through to the White Greyhound of Richmond (Henry VII).
Queen's Beasts Gold Coin Denominations
| Size | Weight | Purity | Diameter | Face Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 31.21 g | 999.9 | 32.69 mm | £100 |
| 1/4 oz | 7.80 g | 999.9 | 22.00 mm | £25 |
All gold Queen's Beasts coins share the same milled edge and bear Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. The obverse inscription reads "ELIZABETH II D.G. REG. F.D." followed by the face value. From 2018 onward, bullion versions incorporated a guilloche patterned background, a braided-ribbon geometric design that adds visual depth and serves as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
The Ten Beasts and Release Dates
| Release | Beast | Year | Heraldic Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lion of England | 2016 | Royal arms of England, traced to Richard I |
| 2 | Griffin of Edward III | 2017 | Personal badge of Edward III |
| 3 | Red Dragon of Wales | 2017 | Badge of Henry VII, Welsh origin |
| 4 | Black Bull of Clarence | 2018 | Badge of the Duke of Clarence, Edward IV |
| 5 | Unicorn of Scotland | 2018 | Royal arms of Scotland, James I/VI |
| 6 | Yale of Beaufort | 2019 | Supporter of Lady Margaret Beaufort |
| 7 | Falcon of the Plantagenets | 2019 | Badge of the House of York, Edward IV |
| 8 | White Lion of Mortimer | 2020 | Badge of the House of York via the Mortimer family |
| 9 | White Horse of Hanover | 2020 | Badge of the House of Hanover, George I |
| 10 | White Greyhound of Richmond | 2021 | Badge of Henry VII |
The Completer Coin, released in April 2021, featured all ten beasts arranged around a central shield. A 10 kg gold proof variant was produced with a face value of £10,000.
Queen's Beasts Tax Treatment by Country
All Queen's Beasts gold coins are UK legal tender, which determines their tax treatment in the United Kingdom and qualifies them as investment gold in most other jurisdictions.
United Kingdom
Gold Queen's Beasts coins are VAT-free as investment gold (bars and coins of 995+ fineness are exempt under the EU-derived investment gold rules retained post-Brexit). They are also CGT-exempt because they are legal tender coins of the United Kingdom. This means any profit from selling Queen's Beasts gold coins is not subject to Capital Gains Tax, regardless of the gain. This is the same exemption that applies to the Gold Britannia, Gold Sovereign, and other Royal Mint bullion coins. Silver and platinum Queen's Beasts coins are also CGT-exempt as UK legal tender, but silver carries 20% VAT at point of purchase.
Gold Queen's Beasts coins are SIPP-eligible for UK pension holders. Gold held in a Self-Invested Personal Pension benefits from tax relief at the holder's marginal rate (up to 45%) and is also exempt from CGT within the pension wrapper.
United States
Queen's Beasts coins are not IRA-eligible. Only US Mint products and certain approved foreign coins qualify for inclusion in a precious metals IRA under IRS Section 408(m). As non-US coins without specific IRS approval, Queen's Beasts are treated as collectibles for capital gains purposes, taxed at a maximum federal rate of 28% for long-term holdings. State sales tax varies; roughly 35 US states exempt bullion from sales tax.
Canada
Gold coins meeting the 99.5% purity threshold are exempt from GST/HST. Queen's Beasts at 999.9 fineness qualify. They also meet the purity requirements for RRSP and TFSA eligibility.
European Union
Gold Queen's Beasts coins are VAT-exempt across the EU under the Investment Gold Directive (Council Directive 98/80/EC), which covers gold coins that are post-1800, at least 900 fine, legal tender in their country of origin, and normally sold at no more than 80% above gold value.
Australia and New Zealand
Investment gold meeting the 99.5% purity threshold is GST-free in Australia. In New Zealand, gold of 99.5%+ purity in coin form is also GST-exempt. Queen's Beasts coins qualify in both jurisdictions.
Singapore and Hong Kong
Gold Queen's Beasts coins qualify as Investment Precious Metals in Singapore (0% GST on gold of 99.5%+ purity). Hong Kong has no sales tax, no import duty, and no capital gains tax on bullion.
From Coronation Statues to Bullion Coins
The Queen's Beasts trace their origin to the coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. Ten heraldic statues, each six feet tall, lined the entrance to Westminster Abbey. They were carved from Portland stone and Clipsham stone by the sculptor James Woodford RA, who received the commission from the Ministry of Works. Each beast held a shield bearing the arms or badge of a royal house from the Queen's ancestry, spanning English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, and Hanoverian lines.
After the coronation, the original statues were dispersed. Several went to Kew Gardens, where they remain on public display near the Palm House. Others were sent to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa, reflecting Canada's relationship with the Crown. Portland stone replicas were later commissioned for the entrance to the Jubilee Walkway at Hampton Court Palace.
The Royal Mint's coin series, announced in early 2016, translated Woodford's plaster sculptures into numismatic art. Jody Clark was chosen to design all ten reverses, maintaining visual coherence across the six-year programme. The first release, the Lion of England, appeared in March 2016. It was initially distributed exclusively in North America through Wholesale Direct Metals before wider UK availability.
Two beasts were released per year: the Griffin and Red Dragon in 2017, Black Bull and Unicorn in 2018, Yale and Falcon in 2019, White Lion and White Horse in 2020, and the White Greyhound in 2021. The Completer Coin followed in April 2021, bringing together all ten beasts on a single reverse for the first time. The 2oz silver Queen's Beasts, released alongside the gold, was the first ever two-ounce UK silver bullion coin.
The series ended with the Completer Coin. The Royal Mint subsequently launched the Tudor Beasts in 2022 as a spiritual successor, using a similar format of heraldic creatures with annually changing designs. The Tudor Beasts series is expected to run through 2026.
Queen's Beasts vs Britannia, Tudor Beasts, and Lunar
The most natural comparison for Queen's Beasts is against other Royal Mint gold bullion series, since all share the same legal tender status, CGT exemption, and VAT-free treatment for UK buyers. The practical differences come down to design, availability, security features, and secondary market dynamics.
The Gold Britannia is The Royal Mint's flagship bullion coin and the most liquid UK gold coin on the international market. It has been in continuous production since 1987, carries annual design changes (since 2022), and features a four-part security suite introduced in 2021: surface animation, latent image, tincture lines, and micro-text. Queen's Beasts has only guilloche patterning. For investors prioritising ease of resale and authentication, the Britannia has a clear advantage. For those interested in a completed set with fixed supply, Queen's Beasts offers something the Britannia cannot.
The Gold Tudor Beasts launched in 2022 as the direct successor to Queen's Beasts, using the same format: heraldic creatures on annually changing reverses, with guilloche patterning rather than the Britannia's security suite. Tudor Beasts is expected to run for ten designs through 2026. For collectors who missed the Queen's Beasts run, Tudor Beasts is the current equivalent. The key difference is availability: Tudor Beasts coins can still be purchased at bullion premiums from The Royal Mint, while Queen's Beasts are secondary market only.
The Royal Mint Lunar (Shengxiao Collection) follows a 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. It shares the same 999.9 purity and CGT exemption. From 2021, the Royal Mint discontinued bullion-grade Lunar coins in favour of proof and brilliant uncirculated finishes only, significantly raising premiums. Pre-2021 bullion Lunars and Queen's Beasts now occupy a similar secondary-market niche: completed or discontinued Royal Mint series trading above their original bullion premiums.
Against non-Royal Mint coins, Queen's Beasts gold matches the purity of the Gold Maple Leaf (999.9) and Gold Philharmonic (999.9), and exceeds the Gold Krugerrand (916.7) and Gold American Eagle (916.7). The Krugerrand and Eagle have far deeper global liquidity. Queen's Beasts' advantage is the UK CGT exemption, which those foreign coins lack for UK residents.