World Silver - 2019 £1000 Una & the Lion, Great Britain Commemorative Issue, 2-Kilo Silver #04 NGC PR70UC

Here is a stunning work from the Great Engravers Series from the United Kingdom that was produced by The Royal Mint in 2019. It is .999 pure silver and is 150 mm round. NGC has graded this example as Proof 70 Ultra Cameo. The obverse presents the fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem, with legend around. In Latin, it reads, ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·FID·DEF·1000 POUNDS· J.C. The unabridged legend is ‘Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix,’ which translates to: ‘Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith.’ The obverse was designed and engraved by Jody Clark.

Painting of Una and the Lion, from the epic poem The Faerie Queene by Edmond Spenser, by Briton Rivière (1840–1920).

The reverse offers the Una and the Lion motif. The design portrays Queen Victoria as the fictional character, Lady Una, from Edmund Spenser’s epic poem The Faerie Queene. The legend reads in Latin: DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS. MMXIX. W.WYON R.A., which translates as: ‘May the Lord direct my steps 2019.’ William Wyon was the chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851. This rare issue is a re-interpretation of William Wyon's original gold £5 coin of Una & the Lion from 1839, the first in a series of coins in the engraver's series. The coin was issued in a variety of denomination in both gold and silver proof. Issue limit: 40.