The King’s Beasts series marks the return of modern numismatic legend, Jody Clark, to the heraldic themes that made him a household name among collectors. This Commonwealth series reimagines the four heraldic icons of the United Kingdom for a new generation of collectors.
The King’s Beasts series marks the return of modern numismatic legend, Jody Clark, to the heraldic themes that made him a household name among collectors. This Commonwealth series reimagines the four heraldic icons of the United Kingdom for a new generation of collectors.
The Alderney King’s Beasts series pays tribute to the four heraldic beasts representing the four nations of the United Kingdom: the Lion of England, the Unicorn of Scotland, the Stag of Ireland, and the Dragon of Wales. This new series is struck by the Commonwealth Mint, the largest private mint in the United Kingdom, as legal tender for Alderney. In many ways, this new series is the spiritual successor to The Royal Mint’s highly popular Queen's Beasts series, which ran from 2016 to 2021.
The King’s Beasts series features obverse and reverse designs by renowned British sculptor Jody Clark. The same legendary artist designed the fifth and final definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Born in 1981, Clark rose to prominence as the youngest artist ever to create a British monarch's coinage portrait. While at The Royal Mint, he also crafted the reverse designs for the entire 2016–2021 Queen's Beasts series, which many consider his true masterpiece.
Now serving as the Head of Design at the Commonwealth Mint, Clark has utilized his decade of artistic refinement to develop the Alderney King’s Beasts series.
The first release of the King’s Beasts series honors the Lion of England and is a masterclass in heraldic imagery.
Reverse: The lion is depicted in a powerful stance, facing left on all four paws, and is complemented by a luxurious, highly detailed, flowing mane, with individual strands of fur clearly visible. Beneath the beast’s paws, Clark has included the royal arms of England alongside an arrangement of roses, which are the national flower of England.
Obverse: The obverse was also designed by Jody Clark and features a stylized Tudor Crown at its center. This motif was chosen specifically to symbolize royal authority and continuity. The crown is set against an ornate, gothic background pattern that lends the coin a sense of gravity and historical richness, while the bottom of the design displays the Alderney coat of arms, which features a rampant lion.
The 2026 King’s Beasts Lion of England coin was designed by Jody Clark, the youngest artist ever to create a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Clark is the visionary behind the original Queen's Beasts series and currently serves as the Head of Design at the Commonwealth Mint. His career has been defined by his ability to blend traditional heraldry with modern digital sculpting, a skill that is on full display with this newest release.
The Alderney King’s Beasts series is among Clark's most ambitious to date.
Collectors will be able to enjoy each King’s Beasts design in a variety of sizes with different denominations, all rendered with a beautiful Proof Ultra Cameo finish.
For the debut 2026 Lion of England coin, these include:
Mintage figures for these collectible strikes are highly restricted, ranging from 2,500 1 Oz Silver Proof coins to just five of the massive Kilo Gold Proofs.
The releases in the Jody Clark King’s Beasts series will be defined by an Ultra Cameo Proof finish. A Proof finish is achieved through multiple strikes at high pressure on specially prepared planchets, ultimately resulting in a stark contrast between frosted design elements and mirror-like backgrounds. Ultra Cameo refers to a perfectly executed Proof finish with rich contrasts that almost appear black and white when viewed under the proper lighting conditions.
The Ultra Cameo Proof finish is complemented by a dramatic Ultra High Relief (UHR) strike, on all but the 1 Oz Silver Proof coins, which will be struck in standard relief, and the ½ Oz Gold Proof coins, which will be struck in High Relief. UHR adds an almost sculptural level of dimension, only achieved by advanced minting techniques and the collaboration of Jody Clark with the Commonwealth Mint’s engineering team. The result is a design that compels the eye, from the lion’s imperious expression to the restless curve of its majestic tail, every detail pops to life.
The primary differences between The Royal Mint’s Queen’s Beast series and the Commonwealth Mint’s King’s Beasts series are the mint that struck the series, the monarchs they represent, and the scope of the series.
The Queen’s Beasts coin series was issued by Great Britain’s The Royal Mint from 2016 to 2021 and featured the ten heraldic animals that stood guard over the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Meanwhile, the Jody Clark King’s Beasts series is struck by a private mint, the Commonwealth Mint, and was created after an accession of a new monarch, King Charles III. Instead of featuring designs of all ten heraldic beasts, the King’s Beast series focuses on the core four beasts that represent the United Kingdom. The more focused scope of the King’s Beasts series makes it much easier for a collector to complete in a shorter amount of time.
GOVMINT will carry the entirety of the Jody Clark King’s Beasts series, starting with the first issue, the 2026 Lion of England. In addition to ungraded coins in Original Government Packaging (OGP), we will also carry certified options from the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) that have received a flawless Proof 70 (PF70) grade and designations such as First Day of Issue (FDI) and First Releases (FR). 70 is the highest grade possible on the Sheldon scale, indicating a coin with zero visible imperfections under 5x magnification, while First Releases (FR) and First Day of Issue (FDI) refer to coins submitting to grading within a strict timeframe. Select options will be available with labels hand-signed by the designer himself, Jody Clark, ensuring your coin is a certified part of his artistic legacy.
With over 40 years of experience in the numismatic industry and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, GOVMINT is your premier destination for securing modern legacies. Be among the first to own the next chapter of heraldic history. Shop the 2026 King’s Beasts Lion of England coin today.
