Una and the Lion Gold Coins

The Una and the Lion gold coin series is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in British numismatic art. Originally designed by William Wyon RA in 1839, this legendary neoclassical masterpiece has been revived in modern form through highly exclusive gold issues produced by The Royal Mint and St Helena (East India Company releases).

Struck in fine .9999 gold and released in extremely limited numbers, Una and the Lion coins sit at the very top tier of modern collectable gold coinage — combining historic artistry with exceptional rarity and strong global demand.

Inspired by Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene , the design depicts Queen Victoria as Una, guiding the lion, which represents Britain. The result is a deeply symbolic and visually striking composition that has long been considered one of the most beautiful coin designs ever created.

Modern remastered versions preserve:

• The flowing neoclassical engraving style
• The symbolic unity of monarch and nation
• Extraordinary depth and detail enhanced by modern minting

This combination of art, literature, and history makes it one of the most important designs in numismatics.

Today’s Una and the Lion gold coins are issued through prestigious modern programmes, including:

• The Royal Mint – Great Engravers series
• St Helena issues – issued via the East India Company

These releases are struck in a range of formats, including 1oz, 2oz, and larger ultra-high-end pieces, with some editions limited to just a few hundred coins worldwide.

Una and the Lion gold coins are among the most sought-after modern numismatic releases due to their combination of:

• World-famous historic coin design
• .9999 fine gold investment-grade purity
• Extremely limited mintages (often <500 pieces)
• Strong international collector demand
• High secondary market premiums for top-grade examples

Graded by PCGS or NGC (such as PR69 and PR70) are especially desirable and often trade at significant premiums.

The Una and the Lion gold range includes multiple tiers of collectability:

• 1oz gold proof coins – accessible entry into the design
• 2oz gold proof coins – flagship collector pieces
• Ultra-premium large formats (5oz, kilo editions) – extremely rare investment-grade issues

These coins are widely regarded as centrepiece acquisitions in high-end modern collections.

Within premium coin collecting, Una and the Lion is often ranked alongside the very best modern issues, including the Great Engravers series highlights.

It is valued for:

• Historical significance
• Artistic excellence
• Limited availability
• Strong long-term collector demand

For many collectors, it represents one of the most important modern gold coin designs ever released.

Una and the Lion coins offer a rare combination of:

• Classical storytelling
• Exceptional engraving artistry
• Investment-grade gold
• Global collectability

Whether acquired as an investment or a flagship collector piece, they remain one of the most desirable gold coin series in the world today.

Browse our selection of Una and the Lion gold coins from The Royal Mint and St Helena, including 1oz proofs, graded examples, and ultra-limited high-end releases.