United Kingdom: Latest “Tudor Beasts” gold and silver bullion coins released, featuring the Bull of Clarence

The Royal Mint has released the third coin design, which is part of the current royal “Tudor Beasts” bullion range collection. The series features the heraldic animals which feature the Tudor beast statues at Hampton Court Palace, home of King Henry VIII. In total, they include the lion of England, the Seymour lion, the royal dragon, the black bull of Clarence, the yale of Beaufort, the white lion of Mortimer, the white greyhound of Richmond, the Tudor dragon, the Seymour panther, and the Seymour unicorn. In terms of heraldry, the real and mythical figures represent the ancestry of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, believed to have been his most beloved spouse. Representing bravery and transformation, which was of vital importance to the new Tudor dynasty, the black bull was used as a badge by Lionel of Antwerp, First Duke of Clarence, the second son of King Edward III, who was the ancestor of the Yorkist kings. It became a royal badge used by his descendant Edward IV and later by Henry VIII.

The statues of the royal beasts can be found atop green and white striped poles at the palace’s entrance on the moat bridge, on the great hall buttresses, and in the Chapel Court, which was recreated in 2009 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. Chapel Court is home to eight of the beasts carved in English oak, each holding special significance to Henry VIII and his lineage.

Each of the designs, in what will comprise a ten-coin collection, is based on each Tudor beast and has been created by artist David Lawrence, with each design combining a unique balance of naturalistic elements with stylised, heraldic depictions. The latest design, which is shared on the gold, platinum, and silver bullion strikes, features the mighty Bull of Clarence holding a shield emblazoned with the Tudor rose. The Tudor rose signifies the marriage between King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, parents of Henry VIII, and united the House of Tudor and the House of York. Above the primary design is the text BULL OF CLARENCE, along with the specifications of the metal, fineness, and weight. The year of release, 2023, is shown below.

The obverse side bears the effigy of HM King Charles III, created by British sculptor Martin Jennings and introduced onto UK Coinage in 2022. The obverse also includes the year of release and the denomination from 100 POUNDS to 5 POUNDS as part of the legend surrounding the King’s likeness.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality
5 pounds	.9999 Silver	62.4 g	40 mm	Bullion
10 pounds	.9999 Silver	312.59 g	89 mm	Bullion
100 pounds	.9995 Platinum	31.1 g	32.6 mm	Bullion
25 pounds	.9999 Gold	7.8 g	22 mm	Bullion
100 pounds	.9999 Gold	31.21 g	32.6 mm	Bullion

Each one-ounce gold and silver two-ounce coin is individually encapsulated and also available in multiples of ten and packaged in tubes. Each quarter-ounce and 10-ounce gold and one-ounce platinum coin is individually encapsulated. For additional information about these coins and other royal “Tudor Beasts” bullion coins, please click here.

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