Queen's Beasts: specifications, value and where to buy
The Queen's Beasts are Royal Mint gold bullion coins issued from 2016 to 2021, one for each of the ten heraldic beasts from the 1953 coronation, plus a completer coin. The 1oz coin is 999.9 gold, 32.69 mm and £100 legal tender; the 1/4oz is £25 and 22 mm. UK residents pay no CGT.
When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, ten heraldic beasts stood guard at Westminster Abbey, each standing for a strand of her ancestry. Royal Mint designer Jody Clark, who also made the Queen's fifth coinage portrait, redrew them for this bullion series. It became one of The Royal Mint's most popular ranges and is now a closed set, traded mainly between dealers and collectors.
What are the specifications of the Queen's Beasts gold coins?
| 1 oz | 1/4 oz | |
|---|---|---|
| Face value | £100 | £25 |
| Purity | 999.9 fine gold (24 carat) | 999.9 fine gold |
| Fine gold | 1 troy oz | 0.25 troy oz |
| Weight | 31.210 g (2017 Dragon spec) | Not stated on the page we checked |
| Diameter | 32.69 mm | 22.00 mm |
| Designer | Jody Clark (obverse and reverse) | |
| Security | Chain mail background texture (noted on later coins) | |
| Packaging | Single coin capsule | |
Sources: The Royal Mint specifications for the 2016 Lion, 2017 Dragon and 2021 completer 1oz coins and the 2021 White Greyhound 1/4oz coin. The 2016 Lion page lists the alloy as "999 Fine Gold" but its fineness as 999.9, and its key points say 999.9 (24 carat); we use 999.9.
What is a Queen's Beasts coin worth today?
| Coin | GBP | USD | CAD | AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 1/4 oz | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Full set of 11 x 1oz | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. Last updated: Loading. Use our coin melt value calculator for mixed holdings.
What do dealers charge for Queen's Beasts coins?
We have not captured Queen's Beasts prices with an automated check, so we do not publish a premium figure for them. Since the series ended, prices depend on which beast you want and its condition. As a rule, mixed or pre-owned coins sell closest to spot, while specific scarcer designs, the completer coin and complete sets in good condition can sell for more. For a benchmark, a new 2026 Tudor Beasts 1oz coin (same size, purity and face value) cost 7.3% above spot at The Royal Mint on 11 October 2026, and the cheapest 1oz Britannia in our GoldVetted price check, 10 October 2026 was 2.8% above spot. If a Queen's Beast costs much more than either, you are paying a collector's premium.
How are Queen's Beasts taxed?
| Country | When you buy | When you sell at a gain |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No VAT Investment gold coin (Notice 701/21A) | No CGT UK legal tender (CG78305) |
| United States | State sales tax varies | Collectible, up to 28% federally if held over a year (IRS Topic 409) |
| Canada | 99.99% gold: no GST/HST (CRA 17.1) | Gains generally taxable |
| Australia | 99.99% investment gold: no GST (GSTR 2003/10) | Generally subject to CGT |
One UK subtlety: the VAT exemption for investment gold coins requires that a coin is not sold for more than 180% of its gold value. Bullion Queen's Beasts sell nowhere near that, so they qualify. For US investors, 99.99% purity clears the 99.5% fineness bar for IRA bullion under section 408(m) of the tax code, subject to your custodian's approval.
Which beasts are in the series?
| No. | Year | Beast | Represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 | Lion of England | England, Royal Arms |
| 2 | 2017 | Griffin of Edward III | Plantagenets |
| 3 | 2017 | Red Dragon of Wales | Wales |
| 4 | 2018 | Unicorn of Scotland | Scotland |
| 5 | 2018 | Black Bull of Clarence | House of York |
| 6 | 2019 | Falcon of the Plantagenets | Plantagenets |
| 7 | 2019 | Yale of Beaufort | Beaufort |
| 8 | 2020 | White Lion of Mortimer | Mortimer |
| 9 | 2020 | White Horse of Hanover | Hanover |
| 10 | 2021 | White Greyhound of Richmond | Richmond, Tudor |
| 11 | 2021 | Completer: all ten beasts around the Queen | The full set |
Release order from the APMEX Learning Center; first, third and final coins confirmed on The Royal Mint's own pages.
The Royal Mint also sold Queen's Beasts as proofs, silver 2oz and 10oz coins and a 1oz gold bar; those are separate products. The completer coin is the only design to feature the Queen and all ten beasts together.
How do you spot a fake Queen's Beasts coin?
- Size check: 32.69 mm for the 1oz, 22.00 mm for the 1/4oz.
- Weight check: a genuine 1oz coin is about 31.2 g. Tungsten-cored fakes can match weight but not size and thickness at the same time.
- Look at the background texture: genuine later coins have a crisp chain mail pattern behind the beast.
- Be careful with "too good" set prices, especially from marketplaces and private sellers.
Our guide to how to tell if gold is real explains magnet, ping and electronic tests.
Where can you buy Queen's Beasts coins?
Queen's Beasts are now mainly sold by UK bullion dealers, often as pre-owned coins. Atkinsons Bullion lists pre-owned Queen's Beasts including full 1oz collections, and BullionByPost has a dedicated Queen's Beasts section. Check the coin, condition and single-coin price against the melt value above. If you just want CGT-free gold at the lowest cost, a Britannia may suit you better; see our best gold coins for beginners, gold coins vs gold bars and all gold coin guides.
Pros and cons
Pros
- CGT and VAT free in the UK
- 999.9 gold from The Royal Mint
- Closed series with a clear set of 11
Cons
- No longer sold new by The Royal Mint
- Specific designs and sets can cost more than plain bullion
- Soft 24 carat gold marks easily, which can matter to collectors
Frequently asked questions
How many Queen's Beasts gold coins are there?
Eleven designs. Ten coins each show one beast, issued from 2016 (Lion of England) to 2021 (White Greyhound of Richmond). The Royal Mint then issued a 2021 completer coin, the only design showing all ten beasts together around the Queen. Each was struck in 1oz and most in 1/4oz gold.
Are Queen's Beasts gold coins CGT free?
Yes, for UK residents. They are UK legal tender, £100 for the 1oz and £25 for the 1/4oz, and The Royal Mint lists them as exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax. HMRC treats sterling legal tender coins as currency, which is not a chargeable asset.
Is the Queen's Beasts completer coin worth more?
It often sells for more than a single-beast coin because it finishes the set and shows all ten beasts. How much more depends on the dealer and demand on the day. Its gold content is the same as the others: one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold.
Can you still buy Queen's Beasts from The Royal Mint?
The series finished in 2021, and The Royal Mint's 2021 bullion page showed no price when we checked on 11 October 2026. Most coins are now bought on the secondary market from bullion dealers, often as pre-owned or mixed coins.
What replaced the Queen's Beasts?
The Royal Tudor Beasts, launched in 2022 with Historic Royal Palaces. It uses the same 1oz and 1/4oz gold sizes and face values. See our Tudor Beasts guide.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2021 gold 1oz bullion coin (completer, specification)
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2016 The Lion 1oz gold bullion coin (first in series)
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2017 The Dragon 1oz gold bullion coin (weight 31.210 g)
- The Royal Mint: Queen's Beasts 2021 White Greyhound of Richmond 1/4oz gold bullion coin
- APMEX Learning Center: Queen's Beasts coin list (release order)
- HMRC Capital Gains Manual CG78305
- HMRC VAT Notice 701/21A: Investment gold coins
- IRS Topic 409: Capital gains and losses
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1
- Australian Taxation Office: GSTR 2003/10
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.