The Griffin of Edward III is the fourth release in the Royal Mint's Queen's Beasts series, drawn from the heraldic supporters that flanked the young Elizabeth II at her 1953 coronation. Edward III adopted the gold griffin as a personal badge in the fourteenth century, distinct from the royal arms proper, and it appeared on his private seal. The beast carries particular weight in English monetary history: Edward III's reign produced the noble, England's first significant gold coin struck in quantity for international trade.
The Griffin of Edward III is the fourth release in the Royal Mint's Queen's Beasts series, drawn from the heraldic supporters that flanked the young Elizabeth II at her 1953 coronation. Edward III adopted the gold griffin as a personal badge in the fourteenth century, distinct from the royal arms proper, and it appeared on his private seal. The beast carries particular weight in English monetary history: Edward III's reign produced the noble, England's first significant gold coin struck in quantity for international trade.