Overview of the 2016 Queen's Beasts Lion 2 oz Silver Coin

The 2016 Queen's Beasts Lion is a 2 troy oz silver coin struck by The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom, composed of .9999 fine silver and issued as part of the now-complete ten-coin Queen's Beasts series. Each coin carries legal tender status under British law, denominated at five pounds sterling, and was produced in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. The series draws from the heraldic tradition that has surrounded the British monarchy for centuries, with the Lion of England representing the first release and setting the standard for the coins that followed. We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of sovereign-minted silver, recognizing that The Royal Mint's reputation for precision manufacturing and consistent quality standards makes these pieces widely recognized among collectors and bullion buyers alike.

History and Background

The Queen's Beasts series was conceived to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the ten heraldic guardian figures that flanked her at Westminster Abbey in 1953. Those figures, drawn from centuries of British royal heraldry, were rendered as stone sculptures for the ceremony and later inspired a set of sculptures that stood outside the Canadian Parliament. The Royal Mint revisited this iconography for the modern bullion series launched in 2016, beginning with the Lion of England and continuing through a decade of releases that concluded with the White Greyhound of Richmond. The Lion of England holds particular prominence within the series as the most recognizable symbol of the British Crown. Its heraldic roots trace back to the Plantagenet kings, and it has appeared on royal arms continuously for over eight hundred years. Launching the series with this figure was a deliberate choice that grounded the entire program in the most foundational element of English royal identity. The Royal Mint itself is one of the oldest operating mints in the world, with a documented history stretching back over a thousand years. It has been responsible for producing British coinage through monarchies, constitutional changes, and multiple centuries of economic transformation, making its products among the most institutionally credible in the global bullion market.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the 2016 Lion coin features a bold depiction of the Lion of England rendered in a stylized heraldic form. The lion is shown crowned and passant guardant, meaning it faces forward with one raised paw in the classic pose associated with the royal arms of England. The design incorporates shield elements displaying the three lions passant of the English royal tradition, and the composition balances sharp relief detailing with clean open fields that give the imagery strong visual impact. The obverse carries a fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by sculptor Jody Clark, which was introduced across Royal Mint coinage beginning in 2015. The portrait shows the Queen in profile wearing the George IV State Diadem, surrounded by inscriptions that include her name, the denomination, the date, and the coin's weight and fineness. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish preserves the precision of both the portrait and the reverse design with consistent surface quality across the strike. At 2 troy ounces with a larger diameter than standard one-ounce issues, the coin provides a more substantial canvas for the heraldic imagery. The additional size makes the crown, the details of the shield, and the texture of the lion's mane considerably more pronounced than what is possible on smaller format pieces.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Royal Mint produces these coins to a declared fineness of .9999 silver, placing them among the highest purity standard commonly available in the sovereign bullion market. Each coin is struck to the mint's quality specifications and carries the weight, purity, and design characteristics that allow it to be recognized and verified across international markets. We take the authentication of every product we carry seriously. All coins in our inventory are verified for authenticity, weight, and purity before they are made available. Our authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC add a further layer of credibility for buyers who may want to pursue third-party certification, and our membership in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflects our commitment to maintaining professional standards across every part of the business.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated denotes a coin that has been struck for distribution but not placed into circulation as legal tender. BU coins retain their original mint luster with no wear from handling, though they may show minor contact marks consistent with the production and packaging process. These marks are a normal characteristic of BU-grade coinage and do not represent damage or degradation of the coin's metal content or visual quality. Individual coins ship in protective plastic flips that shield the surfaces from handling and environmental exposure. Tubes of ten coins are the standard inner pack for the 2 oz Queen's Beasts format, reflecting the coin's larger diameter compared to standard one-ounce pieces. Buyers purchasing larger quantities can expect sealed tube packaging, with full case quantities arriving in sealed outer boxes. Packaging is designed to maintain condition from the time the order is fulfilled through its arrival.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 2016 Queen's Beasts Lion reflects the current spot price of silver combined with a premium that accounts for several product-specific factors. The Royal Mint's standing as a sovereign issuer, the .9999 purity standard, the larger 2 oz format, and the series' status as a completed ten-coin program all contribute to the premium this coin carries above generic silver products. Our pricing is structured to reflect real-time market conditions rather than fixed retail markups, which means the price you see corresponds to where the market is at any given moment. The bid/ask spread displayed on the product page gives buyers a clearer picture of the complete transaction, not just the acquisition cost, which we believe is a more honest way to present precious metals pricing.

Selling and Liquidity

Silver coins produced by The Royal Mint carry broad recognition across dealer networks, auction platforms, and international resale markets. The Queen's Beasts series in particular developed a dedicated following among both bullion buyers and collectors during its production run, and the completed status of the series tends to support continued interest from those looking to acquire individual pieces or complete full sets. We operate a two-way market that allows customers to sell back products within the same platform where they purchased them. Our buyback pricing is competitive and reflects current wholesale market conditions, which means liquidity is built into the relationship from the start rather than being something you have to figure out later. We believe it is important to understand the resale side of any bullion purchase before the transaction is made, and our model is designed to support exactly that kind of informed approach.

Why Buy the 2016 Queen's Beasts Lion 2 oz Silver Coin?

The 2016 Lion stands out because it combines the credibility of sovereign issuance, the purity of .9999 fine silver, and the additional heft of the 2 troy oz format in a design with genuine historical resonance. As the first release in a now-complete series, it holds a particular position for collectors working through the full set, and its heraldic imagery gives it a visual distinctiveness that goes beyond what a generic round or bar can offer. The larger format also appeals to buyers who want more silver content per coin without moving into fractional pricing or bar formats. Two ounces in a single sovereign piece strikes a balance between size and manageability that many buyers find practical, and the coin's BU condition means the design detail is presented at its best without the softening that comes from circulation.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We built this platform around the belief that buying and selling precious metals should be straightforward, data-supported, and free from the pressure tactics that have historically characterized parts of this industry. Every product we sell is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity, and our sourcing reflects long-standing relationships with reputable mints, wholesalers, and distributors. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects over a decade of operating with that standard in mind. Membership in the ANA and NCBA, along with our authorized dealer status with PCGS and NGC, positions us to serve buyers ranging from first-time purchasers to experienced collectors who demand credibility from the dealers they work with. The two-way market structure we maintain means the relationship does not end at the point of purchase. We are here when it is time to sell as well, and our pricing reflects that ongoing commitment to both sides of the transaction.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products including the Queen's Beasts series, along with real-time portfolio valuation based on current wholesale bid levels rather than estimated retail figures. For a series like the Queen's Beasts, where premiums can shift based on set-completion demand and broader silver market conditions, having access to live wholesale pricing provides meaningful context that standard retail listings cannot offer. Pro members also benefit from proprietary research tools that allow products to be compared across key metrics including historical premiums, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity indicators. For buyers weighing the 2 oz Lion against other sovereign silver options, these tools make it possible to evaluate the relative cost of ownership and trading efficiency using objective market data rather than marketing claims.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to ensure the purchasing process is as convenient and secure as possible. Buyers can complete transactions using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each payment option is integrated into a secure transaction environment designed to protect your information and support a smooth buying experience from start to finish.