2023 The Tudor Beasts – The Yale of Beaufort 10oz .9999 Silver Bullion Coin
When the House of Lancaster overcame the House of York following the Wars of the Roses, a formidable dynasty was born. Henry VII, following his matrimonial union with Elizabeth of York to unite the houses, was keen to emphasise the legitimacy of his reign. He looked to the medieval tradition of heraldry to display motifs and symbols wherever possible, reinforcing his rightful position on the English throne to his subjects as well as rival claimants.
Ten stone beasts line the Moat Bridge, representing the lineage of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Consisting of real beasts and mythical creatures, The Royal Mint is honouring these heraldic symbols of one of the nation’s most powerful dynasties with The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection.
The Tudor Beasts Collection will consist of The Seymour Panther, The Lion of England, the Bull of Clarence, the Tudor Dragon, the Greyhound of Richmond, the Royal Dragon, the Yale of Beaufort, the Seymour Unicorn, the Queen’s Panther, and the Queen’s Lion over the next five years.
The Yale of Beaufort
The Yale of Beaufort is the second coin in the bullion series that celebrates the Tudor dynasty.
The Yale is a mythical beast with characteristics of an antelope or goat, depending on the imagination of the artist and their desire to portray grace and elegance, or strength and determination. Strangely, it is said to have horns that can turn independently so in medieval illustrations it is often shown with horns pointing in different directions. The white and gold-spotted Yale of Beaufort has such horns along with the whiskers or ‘tushes’ of a boar.
The Yale of Beaufort was a symbol of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. The Yale of Beaufort connects Henry VIII with the House of Beaufort through his grandmother – another attempt by the king to reinforce the legitimacy of the Tudor dynasty. The beast is also linked to the title of Somerset, which Jane Seymour’s brother held as Duke. It is thought Henry VIII gave the beast to his queen in honour of her brother.
DESIGN
The reverse features David Lawrence’s depiction of the mythical Yale of Beaufort, inspired by the Royal Beast sculptures at Hampton Court Palace. The reverse also features a chainmail surface animation background texture providing additional security. The inscriptions “YALE OF BEAUFORT” as well as the weight, silver fineness and 2023 year-date is present on the reverse.
The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark, with the inscriptions “D . G . REG . F . D . 10 POUNDS . ELIZABETH II” around the edge of coin. There is a chain mail background texture adorning the obverse.
PRESENTATION
Individual coins are provided in a protective acrylic capsule.
Technical Specifications
| Silver Content | (Troy oz) | 10.000 |
| Fineness | (% purity) | 99.99 |
| Weight | (g) | 311.035 |
| Diameter | (mm) | 89.00 |
| Monetary Denomination | (GBP) | £10.00 |
| Designer (Obverse / Reverse) | Jody Clark / David Lawrence |
ABOUT THE ROYAL MINT
The Royal Mint is a government-owned mint that produces coins for the United Kingdom. Operating under the legal name The Royal Mint Limited, the mint is a limited company that is wholly owned by His Majesty’s Treasury and is under an exclusive contract to supply all the nation’s coinage.
