What are the ‘Royal Tudor Beasts’ and why do they feature on UK £5 coins?

In 2017, The Royal Mint revealed a series of brand new base metal UK £5 coins featuring an intriguing range of creatures called the Queen’s Beasts’.

Following on from their huge popularity, a new series of £5 coins has been revealed, that take you back to the time of King Henry VIII and the mighty Tudor dynasty!

Ten heraldic beasts have stood guard, still, and silent on the Moat Bridge of Hampton Court Palace for hundreds of years, representing the royal lineage of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

2023 UK Bull of Clarence £5

The Bull of Clarence joins The Royal Mint’s Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, representing bravery and wealth!

Excitingly, this is the FIRST coin in the royal series to feature King Charles III’s effigy! The three previous coins in the collection have featured Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait, so this new release makes for an unusual £5 coin series with two monarch’s portraits!

Looking back at British history, the Bull of Clarence was particularly popular with royals. It was once used by the first Duke of Clarence as a Yorkist badge, and then later by Henry VIII!

Like the other seven beasts, a statue of the Royal Bull resides outside Hampton Court Palace. But, the Tudor beasts once found home in Henry VIII’s Privy Garden at the palace, used to emphasise his legitimacy as a king!

Travel back to Tudor times with this brand new issue in the incredible series by ordering yours for JUST £12.99 (+p&p) here >>

You can be assured that this coin has been struck to a CERTIFIED Brilliant Uncirculated quality, and protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging!

2023 UK Yale of Beaufort £5

*** OFF SALE AT THE MINT***

Issued as one of only two UK £5 coins dated 2023 to feature the Queen’s portrait, this coin is now off sale at the mint and set to become increasingly sought-after…

As you cross the Moat Bridge of Hampton Court Palace, you’ll see the peculiar statue of the Yale of Beaufort, Arms of Jane Seymour in its possession. It’s said that Henry VIII gave this beast to his new wife – and what a gift it was!

With a mixture of antelope, lion and boar-like features, it is certainly a sight to behold, but especially on the brand new UK £5 coin designed by David Lawrence. The design surely captures the power associated with the Beaufort family, who Seymour had familial ties with through her brother, Edward.

Step back into Tudor history with this must have issue in the incredible series by ordering yours for £24.99 (+p&p) here >>

2022 UK Lion of England £5

One of the first beasts to greet you on the Moat Bridge of Hampton Court Palace, the crowned Lion of England supports a shield bearing the combination of two coats of arms – of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

A brave and ferocious lion has featured on the shield of England for as long as it has existed.

Representing English courage, strength, dignity, and pride, this beast remains an iconic heraldic symbol to this very day.

Designed by David Lawrence, this brand new £5 coin shows the crowned Lion in a powerful stance. Its lips are curled, exposing the ferocious grimace of teeth, and its claws clasp tightly around the shield of arms it stands to protect.

This brand new coin is the second issue in this exciting series celebrating the history of the Tudor dynasty. You can order your 2022 UK Lion of England £5 coin for JUST £12.99 (+p&p) today by clicking here >>

What’s more, the impressive size of the £5 coin is the perfect way to show off such detail – one of the reasons why £5 coins are the go-to issues for serious UK new issue coin collectors.

Your CERTIFIED Brilliant Uncirculated quality coin has been protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging to preserve it for generations to come.

2022 UK Seymour Panther £5

The Seymour Panther was gifted to Jane Seymour by King Henry VIII from the royal treasury of beasts. It is one of the ten magnificent King’s Beasts sculptures you’ll find if you visit Hampton Court Palace.

The exquisite reverse design of this £5 coin, by David Lawrence, depicts the panther in all its glory, with flames coming out of its mouth and ears. Known for its intoxicating breath, the Seymour Panther represents the union between the mighty King Henry VIII and his wife, Jane Seymour.

The 2022 UK Seymour Panther £5. Secure yours here >>

This coin was the very first issue in The Royal Mint’s Tudor Beasts Collection. You can order your 2022 UK Seymour Panther £5 coin for JUST £10.99 (+p&p) today by clicking here >>

What’s more, the impressive size of the £5 coin is the perfect way to show off such detail – one of the reasons why £5 coins are the go-to issues for serious UK new issue coin collectors.

Your CERTIFIED Brilliant Uncirculated quality coin has been protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging to preserve it for generations to come.

The heraldic beasts of the Tudor dynasty

Over 400 years ago Henry VIII commissioned the sculpting of 10 heraldic animal statues. They were produced to represent the ancestry of King Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour.

These became known as “The King’s Beasts” and can still be seen to this day, guarding the main entrance to Hampton Court Palace. One of the responsibilities of the beasts is to support various shields which themselves have symbols known as badges.

The Tudor Beasts outside of Hampton Court Palace. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

King Henry VIII had numerous beasts decorating Hampton Court where the Queen’s own beasts now reside. The Tudor Beasts are: the Lion of England, the Royal Dragon, the Tudor Dragon, the Black Bull of Clarence, the Yale of Beaufort, the White Lion of Mortimer, the White Greyhound of Richmond, the Seymour Lion, the Seymour Panther and the Seymour Unicorn.

The Queen’s ten beasts were modeled after these creatures and guarded her coronation in 1952. Woodford, the sculptor instructed to produce these ten new statues, did not produce exact replicas to those of Henry VIII’s beasts, as these would have had little connection with Her Majesty’s own family or ancestry.

Now that you know about the history of the Tudor creatures, which beast are you excited to see featured on our £5 coin? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure your 2023 UK Bull of Clarence £5 in Brilliant Uncirculated quality!

Secure the brand new 2023 UK Bull of Clarence £5 for your collection today >>

Your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, ensuring its quality is perfect for you to add to your collection. It will also come protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging to preserve it for generations to come.

To make sure you don’t miss out on owning the rest of the coins in the series and to be one of the very first collectors to complete the collection, you can sign up to the Change Checker UK CERTIFIED BU £5 Subscription today and with just a few simple clicks of a button you’ll be guaranteed to never miss a UK £5 coin release!

Sign up for free today by clicking here >>