Silver Coin 5 Oz The Faerie Queene - Una & The Lion 2023 Proof

The Faerie Queene - Una & Lion - 5 Oz

An exclusive silver coin issued by the British Overseas Territory of St Helena for 2023 and minted in the finest 99.9% pure silver, weighing 5 Oz (155.5g), this coin is part of The Faerie Queene four-part series. The series is directly inspired by the first book of the epic poem of the same name and tells a romantic story full of allegories. The heroes of the second coin are Una and the lion.

The motif on the reverse side of the coin follows the story of the beautiful Una after she was separated from the knight Redcross as a result of a sorcerer's spell. Weary of wandering, Una seeks rest in a shady forest when a ferocious lion enters the clearing in search of prey. The hungry lion, however, loses its predation at the sight of the princess' beauty and innocence. The motif depicts a scene of mutual recognition in which the lion receives Una's soothing touch. The lion then willingly becomes her faithful guardian and protector. The image is partly superimposed on the rim of the coin with the series title 'THE FAERIE QUEENE'.
The Faerie Queene is an epic poem by the English poet Edmund Spenser. The first three books, out of a total of six, form a whole of their own. The author dedicated them to Queen Elizabeth I in 1589. The official publication followed a year later in 1590. Spenser treated the theme of Elizabethan morality in his verse, which also won him the Queen's favour and the promised annuity. Through allegories of chivalric virtue, he created a model of the values and behaviour of a noble man. He used the Arthurian tradition and linked it to the Tudor dynasty. He linked the mythical King Arthur, through their common Welsh ancestry, to the royal line of the Tudors, thus confirming their right to the English throne.
The first book features the beautiful Una and the knight Redcrosse with allegorical tales of holiness defeating error. Princess Una sets out to find a savior for her parents and their kingdom, which is threatened by a dragon. She meets a knight who promises her help and his life. On their journey together, the heroes are deceived and divided. Alone in the forest, Una meets a lion who is captivated by her beauty and offers her protection. By a ruse, Redcrosse is captured by a giant. He is rescued by Una with the help of Prince Arthur, Knight of the Round Table. Subsequently, Redcrosse slays the dragon while fulfilling his destiny to become Saint George. The pages end with the engagement of the main characters and a happy ending.
During Queen Victoria's reign, this story was used for the iconic Una & Lion coin motif. The 1837 design, set in a setting of romance and chivalry, identified the young Queen with the character of Una.

The obverse depicts Jody Clark's coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which is accompanied by the artist's initials "J.C.". The coin description states "ELIZABETH II - D - G - REG - F - D - ST. HELENA", the year of issue and the denomination "2023 - 5 POUND".

The coin is supplied in a representative box together with a certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 500 pieces for the whole world!

This product is part of the following product sets: