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About the 1 Kilo Queen's Beasts Silver Coin
The 1 Kilo Queen's Beasts Silver Coin: UK Legal Tender with CGT Exemption
The 1 Kilo Queen's Beasts silver coin is a large-format entry in The Royal Mint's ten-coin heraldic series, struck in .9999 fine silver. The series ran from 2016 to 2021, celebrating the ten heraldic beasts represented as statues at Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation. Each beast traces a line in the Queen's ancestry through its associated royal house or dynasty, from the Lion of England (Richard I) to the White Greyhound of Richmond (Henry VII).
The critical tax advantage of this product is its UK CGT exemption. As UK legal tender, all Queen's Beasts coins (gold, silver, and platinum) are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. Combined with the kilo format's lower per-ounce premium compared to smaller denominations, this creates a tax-efficient route into silver at scale for UK-based buyers who anticipate selling at a profit. The 20% VAT on purchase remains unavoidable, but the CGT exemption on disposal can outweigh this cost for holdings with substantial capital appreciation.
The series concluded in 2021 with the Completer Coin featuring all ten beasts on a single design. Bullion versions had no mintage cap during their production year but are no longer minted, making supply fixed and secondary-market-only. Premiums on early-year releases (particularly the 2016 Lion of England) have increased since the series ended, though the kilo format sees less speculative pricing than proof or limited-edition versions.
Queen's Beasts 1 Kilo Silver Coin Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 kilogram (32.15 troy ounces) |
| Purity | .9999 fine silver |
| Fine silver content | 999.9 g |
| Face value | Varies by issue (GBP denominated) |
| Manufacturer | The Royal Mint |
| Legal tender | United Kingdom |
| Designer | Jody Clark |
| Obverse | Queen Elizabeth II (Jody Clark portrait) |
| Edge | Milled |
| Series duration | 2016-2021 (10 designs + Completer) |
| Security | Guilloche patterned background (2018 onward) |
All ten beast reverses were designed by Jody Clark, who also designed the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appears on the obverse. Each beast holds a shield bearing the royal arms or dynastic badge it represents. A guilloche (braided-ribbon geometric) patterned background was added from 2018 onward as an anti-counterfeiting measure.
The Ten Beasts
- Lion of England (2016) , royal arms of England, Richard I
- Griffin of Edward III (2017) , personal badge of Edward III
- Red Dragon of Wales (2017) , badge of Henry VII
- Black Bull of Clarence (2018) , badge of the Duke of Clarence, Edward IV
- Unicorn of Scotland (2018) , royal arms of Scotland, James I/VI
- Yale of Beaufort (2019) , supporter of Lady Margaret Beaufort
- Falcon of the Plantagenets (2019) , badge of the House of York
- White Lion of Mortimer (2020) , badge of the Mortimer family
- White Horse of Hanover (2020) , badge of the House of Hanover
- White Greyhound of Richmond (2021) , badge of Henry VII
Queen's Beasts Tax Treatment: The CGT Exemption Advantage
The Queen's Beasts series holds a distinctive tax position among silver coins because it combines silver bullion content with UK legal tender status, creating a CGT exemption that most silver products cannot offer.
United Kingdom
Silver Queen's Beasts coins attract 20% VAT on purchase, the same as all silver bullion in the UK. However, as UK legal tender coins, they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax on disposal. This is the same exemption that applies to the Silver Britannia and gold Sovereigns. For a kilo coin that could appreciate significantly over a holding period, the CGT exemption represents a substantial tax saving at the point of sale. The break-even calculation depends on the holding period, the gain achieved, and the individual's CGT rate (18% basic, 24% higher).
United States
Queen's Beasts coins are not typically listed on IRA custodian approved lists (which focus on US Mint products and certain approved foreign coins like the Maple Leaf and Kangaroo). They are treated as collectibles for capital gains purposes at the 28% federal rate. State sales tax varies.
European Union
Post-Brexit, UK-minted silver coins entering the EU face standard import VAT at the destination country's rate. Gold Queen's Beasts remain VAT-exempt under the investment gold directive for EU buyers.
Canada
Silver at 99.9%+ purity is exempt from GST/HST. The .9999 Queen's Beasts qualifies. Capital gains follow the 50% inclusion rate.
Australia and New Zealand
Investment-grade silver at 99.9%+ purity is GST-free in both countries. CGT applies in Australia (50% discount for holdings over 12 months). No formal CGT in New Zealand.
Singapore and Hong Kong
Singapore exempts qualifying silver from GST under the Investment Precious Metals scheme. Hong Kong has no sales tax or capital gains tax.
Queen's Beasts vs Other Royal Mint Kilo Silver Coins
The Royal Mint has produced several limited series in kilo silver format, including the Queen's Beasts, the subsequent Tudor Beasts (2022-2026), and various one-off commemorative issues. The Queen's Beasts occupies a specific position in this landscape as a completed series with fixed supply.
vs Tudor Beasts (current series): The Tudor Beasts replaced the Queen's Beasts as The Royal Mint's multi-year heraldic series, running from 2022 to 2026 with ten designs. Both share .9999 purity, UK legal tender status, and CGT exemption. The Tudor Beasts benefit from the same tax advantages while being currently in production (easier to acquire at standard premiums). The Queen's Beasts, being complete, trade on the secondary market where early releases may command premiums above the original issue price.
vs Silver Britannia: The Britannia is The Royal Mint's ongoing flagship silver bullion coin, available in 1 oz format with advanced four-feature security (surface animation, latent image, tincture lines, micro-text from 2021). The Britannia's standard 1 oz size offers more granular liquidity than the kilo Queen's Beasts, and its continuous production means consistent dealer availability. Both are CGT-exempt as UK legal tender. The kilo format's advantage is lower per-ounce premiums.
vs 1 Kilo Maple Leaf and 1 Kilo Perth Kangaroo: Both competing kilo coins are .9999 purity and currently in production with readily available supply. Neither offers UK CGT exemption. For UK residents, the Queen's Beasts' tax advantage is its primary differentiator. For international buyers without UK CGT obligations, the Maple Leaf and Kangaroo offer better ongoing availability and broader global dealer recognition.