Where the series comes from
On the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace stand heraldic beasts celebrating the ancestry of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. The Royal Mint’s Royal Tudor Beasts series brings those beasts onto gold and silver bullion coins, one design at a time, as a series of ten. Every design is by David Lawrence.
The beasts, in order of release
| Release | Beast | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lion of England | 2022 |
| 2 | Yale of Beaufort | 2023 |
| 3 | Bull of Clarence | 2023 |
| 4 | Seymour Unicorn | 2024 |
| 5 | Tudor Dragon | 2024 |
| 6 | Queen’s Panther | 2025 |
| 7 | Greyhound of Richmond | 2025 |
| 8 | Queen’s Lion | 2026 |
| 9 | Royal Dragon | 2026 |
Browse the gold coins in our British coins range.
What some of the beasts mean
- The Lion of England stands for English royal authority.
- The Yale of Beaufort, a mythical beast with swivelling horns, came through Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII.
- The Bull of Clarence carries the House of York into Henry VIII’s ancestry through his mother, Elizabeth of York.
- The Seymour Unicorn marks Jane Seymour’s family.
- The Tudor Dragon recalls the dynasty’s Welsh roots and the red dragon banner Henry VII carried at Bosworth in 1485.
- The Greyhound of Richmond was a badge of the House of Lancaster, carried by Henry VII as Earl of Richmond.
Sizes and specification
| Size | Fine gold | Diameter | Face value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1oz | 31.1035 g, 999.9 fine | 32.69 mm | £100 |
| 1/4oz | 7.7759 g, 999.9 fine | 22.00 mm | £25 |
Both sizes are UK legal tender, so free of Capital Gains Tax for UK residents, and carry no VAT as investment gold.
Bullion, proof and certified Tudor Beasts
Each beast is issued as a bullion coin, and many collectors also pursue proof versions and graded examples, especially at MS70 or with early release labels. A certified coin has the same gold as the bullion coin; the extra cost buys verified condition. See our certified Tudor Beasts.
How to collect the series
- Pick a size and stick to it. A matching set is more satisfying, and usually easier to sell as a set.
- Quarter ounces are the affordable route to the full series.
- Buy earlier beasts while you can. Once a design’s production period ends, supply comes only from the secondary market.
- Keep every coin in its capsule to protect condition.
- Decide early whether you want bullion or graded coins, because mixing them makes a set harder to value.
The honest caveat
Series coins carry a premium above plain bullion because collectors want them. That premium can grow, and it can shrink. If your only aim is the most gold for your money, a plain Britannia does that better.
Questions people ask
How many coins are in the Royal Tudor Beasts series?
Ten, released over five years.
Who designed the Tudor Beasts?
David Lawrence designed the whole series.
Are Tudor Beasts coins VAT free?
Yes, the gold coins are investment gold and carry no VAT.
Are they Capital Gains Tax free?
Yes, for UK residents, as UK legal tender.
Which size should I collect?
The quarter ounce is the more affordable way to complete a set; the one ounce carries a lower premium per gram.
This guide is general information, not financial, investment or tax advice. The value of precious metals can go down as well as up.
