The treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory has launched (6th April) the second release which is part of a 10-coin series of £2 bi-metallic coins featuring all 10 of the renowned Queen’s Beasts sculptures. Commissioned specially for the coronation celebrations in 1953, these admired, and, in some cases — mythical creatures, who feature prominently in heraldry, were placed along the entrance of Westminster Abbey to welcome the Queen on the day she was crowned.
Two of the 10 Queen’s Beasts are depicted as the Royal supporters of England, namely the Lion of England and the Unicorn of Scotland. Each of the 10 designs consists of a heraldic beast and a supporting shield or crest bearing the arms of a family or royal dynasty associated with the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II. The second design features the White Greyhound of Richmond, which was associated with Edmund Tudor, father of King Henry VII, and who was created Earl of Richmond. King Henry VII also on occasion used the designs of white greyhounds as supporters and on his own standards before becoming King in 1485, but subsequently replaced the English lion with the white greyhound, in the coat of arms of England, placing it opposite the Y Ddraig Goch, or Red Dragon of Wales. Queen Elizabeth II, through the lineage of Henry VII’s daughter Margaret, Queen of Scotland, is a direct descendant to the first Tudor King.
The coins are produced by the Pobjoy Mint at their facilities in Surrey, on behalf of the treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory. The reverse design includes a depiction of the head of a greyhound centred, a representation of the Tudor rose shield is placed to the left of the greyhound. The coin is inscribed with the wording WHITE GREYHOUND OF RICHMOND, seen above the primary design, and the denomination TWO POUNDS is placed at the bottom of this coin.
The obverse of the coin features an elegant effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, which is an exclusive design of the Pobjoy Mint. The issuing authority BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY is placed around the Queen’s likeness as the coin’s legend with the year of issue 2021 shown below the portrait.
Denom. | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Maximum Mintage |
Two pounds | Bi-metallic | 12 g | 28.4 mm | Brilliant Unc. | 2,750 |
Two pounds | .925 Silver | 12 g | 28.4 mm | Proof | 475 |
Base metal Brilliant Uncirculated examples are presented in a sealed blister-pak card, sterling silver Proof examples are encapsulated and presented in a custom royal purple coloured case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information about these coins and other coins released by the British Indian Ocean Territory, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint.
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