The Faerie Queene series
The four-part series of collectible coins is directly inspired by the medieval romantic tale The Faerie Queene.
The Faerie Queeneis an epic poem by 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's verse treated the theme of Elizabethan morality, which also won him the Queen's favour and a 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.
