2019 2oz Yale Of Beaufort Silver Coin Queen's Beasts

The 2019 Queen's Beast - Yale of Beaufort 2oz silver coin. This stunning silver coin is part of a series of ten coins that feature the "Queen's Beasts".

This 2019 coin features the Yale Of Beaufort. A 'Yale' is a mythical beast found in European mythology and the imagery was used by the Beaufort family during the fifteenth century. The black-coloured Yale (aka Centicore) has long and flexible horns, which can be moved independently of each other. It is the size of a horse with an elephant's tail. The Yale symbolises a proud defence.

The coin is fine silver (999.9) and weighs two ounce (62.2 grams). The Royal Mint issued an initial 100,000 coins, though the Queen's Beast series is officially of unlimited mintage until the end of the year of issue.

The Queen's Beasts are ten statues which stood guard for the Queen's Coronation in 1953. They were sculpted by James Woodford RA and his designs have been used by Jody Clark of the Royal Mint for the coin designs. The Queen's Beasts are still standing, but are currently housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, Canada. Stone replicas of the statues can be found at Kew Gardens.