Overview of the 2017 Queen's Beast Griffin 1 oz Gold Coin

The 2017 Queen's Beast Griffin is a one troy ounce gold coin struck by The Royal Mint to .9999 fineness and issued as legal tender under the authority of the United Kingdom. It belongs to the Queen's Beast series, a ten-coin program that draws from the heraldic tradition of English and British royal history. Each release in the series depicts one of the ten ceremonial beasts that stood guard at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, and the Griffin of Edward III is the subject of this particular issue. We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of sovereign-minted gold from The Royal Mint.

History and Background

The Queen's Beast series was launched by The Royal Mint in 2016 as a tribute to the heraldic sculptures that flanked the entrance to Westminster Abbey during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The original stone figures were created by sculptor James Woodford and represented centuries of royal genealogy expressed through heraldic symbolism. The Griffin of Edward III traces its lineage to the reign of the fourteenth-century English king, one of the most prominent monarchs of the medieval period and the founder of the Order of the Garter. The Royal Mint has operated continuously since the ninth century, making it one of the oldest and most respected minting institutions in the world. Its modern facility in Llantrisant, Wales, upholds the precision standards expected of a government-backed operation responsible for producing circulating and commemorative currency. The Queen's Beast series represents one of its most ambitious numismatic programs, combining historical symbolism with high-specification bullion production across gold, silver, and platinum formats.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the Griffin coin was designed by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark and depicts a griffin rendered in striking heraldic detail. The creature is shown in a classic rampant pose, clutching a shield bearing the English royal arms of Edward III. The composition is tightly framed and highly sculptural, with fine line work that gives the coin exceptional visual depth. The inscription "QUEEN'S BEASTS" and the denomination of 100 pounds appear alongside the design. The obverse carries Jody Clark's fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced by The Royal Mint in 2015 and used across the Queen's Beast series for continuity. The effigy is refined and authoritative, accompanied by the standard inscriptions identifying the monarch, the year of issue, and the legal tender status. The overall finish on Brilliant Uncirculated examples is clean and sharp, with the relief work showing strong contrast between the frosted design elements and the polished fields.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Royal Mint produces this coin to a purity of .9999 fine gold, which represents four-nines fineness and meets or exceeds the standards required for most major gold markets worldwide. Each coin is struck to exacting specifications that are consistent across the series, and the precision of the relief work itself serves as a natural indicator of authentic production quality. The detailed heraldic engraving is difficult to replicate at the level produced by The Royal Mint's dies and production process. We verify every product for authenticity and conformity to stated specifications before it is made available. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we also support customers who wish to have coins professionally graded or certified, which provides an additional independent layer of authentication for collectors and those seeking encapsulated examples.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, commonly abbreviated as BU, describes a coin that has been struck for quality and collector appeal rather than general circulation. BU coins retain their original mint luster, sharp relief, and clean surfaces, distinguishing them from coins that have passed through commercial use. This condition is standard for The Royal Mint's Queen's Beast bullion releases, which are produced with attention to surface quality even within the bullion tier. Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to prevent surface contact during transit. Tubes of ten are the standard inner pack for the one ounce Queen's Beast gold coins, and a sealed box of one hundred coins represents the outer pack configuration for bulk orders. Buyers purchasing at any of these quantities can expect appropriate protective packaging that reflects the value of the contents.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin moves in close relationship to the live spot price of gold, with a premium applied above that base figure. The premium reflects the costs associated with The Royal Mint's production standards, the global distribution network, and the collector recognition that comes with a numbered series from one of the world's most respected minting institutions. Series coins, particularly those with defined programs like the Queen's Beast collection, often carry somewhat higher premiums than generic bullion coins due to the design work and series collectibility. We display pricing transparently with real-time updates that reflect current market conditions. The bid and ask spread on each product page provides a clear picture of both the acquisition cost and the current resale value, which we believe gives buyers a more complete understanding of the full cost of ownership rather than focusing solely on the premium at the time of purchase.

Selling and Liquidity

One troy ounce gold coins issued by government mints trade with broad recognition across the global bullion market. The Royal Mint carries strong institutional credibility, and the Queen's Beast series is well known among both bullion buyers and coin collectors in North America, Europe, and Asia. The .9999 fineness meets the purity requirements of most major trading platforms and refineries, which supports straightforward resale across a range of channels. We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell precious metals within the same platform. Rather than requiring customers to seek out third-party buyers when they are ready to liquidate, our competitive buyback pricing is built into the platform from the outset. Thinking about the sell side before making a purchase is a practice we actively encourage, and our tools are designed to support that kind of informed decision-making.

Why Buy the Queen's Beast Griffin 1 oz Gold Coin?

The Griffin of Edward III occupies a distinct position within the Queen's Beast series as one of the most visually dynamic designs in the program. The rampant griffin composition is bold and detailed, and the heraldic shield adds historical layering that distinguishes it from more standard bullion reverses. For collectors assembling the full ten-coin series, this coin is a necessary piece, and for bullion buyers it offers the same one ounce, .9999 fine gold content as any leading sovereign coin with the added depth of a numbered series design. The combination of Royal Mint production quality, recognized legal tender status, and a defined series structure gives this coin characteristics that appeal across a broad range of buyer profiles. Whether the primary interest is the metal content, the design, or the series as a whole, the Griffin coin delivers on each front without requiring a premium that would be considered unusual for a coin in this category.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been in this business since 2010, and our approach has not changed: transparent pricing, honest communication, and a commitment to making both the buying and selling experience straightforward. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects the standard we hold ourselves to across every transaction. Membership in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflects our standing within the professional precious metals community. Every product we carry has been verified for authenticity, weight, and purity. Our authorized dealer relationships with PCGS and NGC mean we can support customers who want professional third-party grading for coins like this one. We source from reputable mints and established wholesale channels, and we back that sourcing with knowledgeable support for customers who have questions before or after their purchase. Our platform is built around the idea that buyers deserve access to the same clarity and objectivity they would expect from any well-structured marketplace.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members direct access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing on products like the Queen's Beast Griffin, along with the ability to value their holdings using real-time wholesale bid prices rather than estimated retail figures. For a coin like this, where both the bullion content and the series premium matter, understanding how the premium has moved over time provides meaningful context that a simple spot price comparison cannot. Pro members also gain access to proprietary research tools that allow comparison across the broader catalog using metrics such as premium percentile rankings, bid/ask spread analysis, and liquidity indicators. For collectors and bullion buyers evaluating multiple Queen's Beast releases or comparing them against other one ounce sovereign gold coins, these tools provide objective data that supports more deliberate purchasing decisions.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We accept a wide range of payment methods to make purchasing as straightforward as possible. Major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are all accepted, as are PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments through BitPay. Every transaction is processed with security and reliability in mind, and our checkout process is built to give customers confidence at every step. Whether you are making a single purchase or adding to an existing holding, the payment experience is designed to be simple and secure.