1 oz 2021 St Helena Una and the Lion Silver Coin | East India Company

The Una and the Lion coin, designed by famed artist and engraver William Wyon, was first struck in 1839 intended to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria of England, following her succession to the throne, in 1837. Originally intended as a collector's piece, the design was met with much critical acclaim and is recognized as one of the most beautifully struck coins in history. The Royal Mint has reimagined this historical icon on this immaculately designed 1 oz 999 fine silver coin.

COIN HIGHLIGHTS

• Ships individually in protective packaging
• Consisting of 1 oz 999 Fine Silver
• Obverse: Features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II created by Ian Rank-Broadley along with the issuing country, legal tender value, and the inscription “DG REGINA”
• Reverse: Features a redesigned version of the iconic Una and the Lion series with Una holding a scepter accompanied by her fierce lion protector along with the year of issue, metal weight, purity, and East India Company mint mark

The story of Una and the lion originates in Edmund Spencer's epic 1590's poem, The Faerie Queene. The lengthy, allegorical work praised Queen Elizabeth I, celebrating and critiquing the Tudor dynasty.

Una is the beautiful young daughter of a king and queen who have been imprisoned by a ferocious dragon. Una undertakes a quest to free her parents, but on her journey she encounters a fierce lion. The lion is so captivated by Una’s innocence and beauty that he abandons his plan to eat her, and vows instead to become her protector and companion.

Una represents truth and the Church of England while the lion is thought to represent Queen Elizabeth's power, her elegance and her aristocratic figure.

ABOUT SAINT HELENA

The tiny, isolated Island of Saint Helena is an unlikely candidate as one of the most significant and influential nations in terms of global trade. Yet, looking back and examining the collective history, St. Helena is an integral component of worldwide trade and commerce. The Island, which spans an area of 47 square miles, was seen as an oasis by explorers and conquerors such as the Dutch, Portuguese, and English, all vying for control of the crucial port. In 1658 the British claimed the Island by making it a fortress and a hub for lucrative expeditions to India, China, and the rest of the Eastern world. The trading hub has now reached unprecedented heights of success, accounting for half of the world’s trade, establishing a monopoly in cotton, silk, salt, spices and tea, among many others, contributing to the vast and enormous wealth of the British empire. The Island, which remains a British colony to this day, was a vital component in the rise of the British empire.