2018 Great Britain 5-oz Silver Queen's Beast Red Dragon Proof

The Next Protector of Queen Elizabeth II is Here!

. . . With a Little Help from Her Friends . . .

When you're about to be crowned as the Queen of England at the age of 27, it helps to have a bit of protection! That's why the British Ministry of Works commissioned sculptor James Woodford RA to create a series of 10 heraldic beasts, each symbolizing a different chapter of the Queen's genealogy, for Her Majesty's coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953. First sculpted in plaster, the Queen's Beasts have had several homes since their debut, now residing in the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec. However, Woodford also sculpted replicas of the beasts in Portland stone that now sit outside the Kew Gardens in London.

Introducing the Fierce Red Dragon of Wales!

Now, the Royal Mint is introducing the third design in the popular Queen's Beasts proof series -- the Red Dragon of Wales! Following the popular Lion of England and Unicorn of Scotland releases, this newest Queen's Beasts proof coin brilliantly depicts the symbolic Welsh Dragon, hallmark of sovereignty and power for centuries. A figure of Welsh history since the sixth century and a feature of the Royal Coat of Arms since the sixteenth century, the Red Dragon of Wales has been reimagined for the twenty-first century by acclaimed designer Jody Clark. In addition, Clark designed the coin's obverse -- the latest definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, used on all coins from the UK since 2015.

A Mythical Creature, a Living Legend, a Treasured Keepsake!

Legal tender 10 pounds sterling, each 2018 Queen's Beasts Red Dragon of Wales Proof is struck in five ounces of 99.9% fine silver using polished dies and multiple strikes -- all resulting in a coin with sharp details and mirror-like fields. Your proof will arrive to you in its original Royal Mint presentation case along with a numbered mint certificate of authenticity and booklet detailing both the history behind the Red Dragon of Wales and the inspiration for this proof's dynamic design. With the Queen's recent accomplishment of becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history, it's no surprise that silver proofs from this landmark series are seeing high collector demand. At a mintage limited to just 750 coins, we're expecting these Red Dragon of Wales Proofs to fly from our vaults in short order. Don't miss out on your chance to continue the series, start a new collection or just get a great piece of numismatic art -- buy yours today!