Thomas Wyon Jr.'s original Una and the Lion design appeared on the 1839 British five pounds — widely considered the most beautiful coin ever struck by the Royal Mint — and was never used again for regular currency. Jersey's 2019 issue resurrects it in 9ct gold as part of a deliberate program to revisit that piece, nearly 180 years after its single appearance.
The 9ct composition is worth noting: lower-carat gold strikes tend to be harder and take die detail less cleanly than .916 fine gold, which makes the choice mildly unconventional for a prestige issue of this type.
Thomas Wyon Jr.'s original Una and the Lion design appeared on the 1839 British five pounds — widely considered the most beautiful coin ever struck by the Royal Mint — and was never used again for regular currency. Jersey's 2019 issue resurrects it in 9ct gold as part of a deliberate program to revisit that piece, nearly 180 years after its single appearance.
The 9ct composition is worth noting: lower-carat gold strikes tend to be harder and take die detail less cleanly than .916 fine gold, which makes the choice mildly unconventional for a prestige issue of this type.