2018 1 Oz Great Britain Queen's Beast Gold Coin (Unicorn) - BU

Buyback price:  $3,934.98
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $3,990.91

Product ID: BST-001034146D

Specifications

Year 2018
Precious Metal Type Gold
Bullion Coin Type Queen's Beasts
Format Coin
Country of Origin Great Britain
Brand/Mint The Royal Mint
Purity 0.9999
Weight 1 oz
Thickness (mm) 2.7 mm
Diameter (mm) 32.69 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 10
Outer Pack (Quantity) 100
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2018 Queen's Beast Unicorn 1 oz Gold Coin

The 2018 Queen's Beast Unicorn is a one-ounce gold coin struck by The Royal Mint in Great Britain, carrying a purity of .9999 fine gold and a face value of £100 as legal tender of the United Kingdom. It belongs to the acclaimed Queen's Beast series, a ten-coin program that draws from the heraldic beasts historically associated with the British monarchy. Each coin in the series features a different creature, and the Unicorn of Scotland is among the most visually striking entries in the program.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, making it a strong choice for collectors and buyers who want a high-purity, government-issued gold coin with genuine numismatic presence alongside its bullion appeal.

History and Background

The Queen's Beast series was launched by The Royal Mint in 2016 as a tribute to the ten heraldic animals that stood guard at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Those figures, sculpted by James Woodford for the coronation procession at Westminster Abbey, were among the most celebrated royal heraldic displays of the twentieth century. The coin series was conceived to honor both the

Overview of the 2018 Queen's Beast Unicorn 1 oz Gold Coin

The 2018 Queen's Beast Unicorn is a one-ounce gold coin struck by The Royal Mint in Great Britain, carrying a purity of .9999 fine gold and a face value of £100 as legal tender of the United Kingdom. It belongs to the acclaimed Queen's Beast series, a ten-coin program that draws from the heraldic beasts historically associated with the British monarchy. Each coin in the series features a different creature, and the Unicorn of Scotland is among the most visually striking entries in the program.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, making it a strong choice for collectors and buyers who want a high-purity, government-issued gold coin with genuine numismatic presence alongside its bullion appeal.

History and Background

The Queen's Beast series was launched by The Royal Mint in 2016 as a tribute to the ten heraldic animals that stood guard at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Those figures, sculpted by James Woodford for the coronation procession at Westminster Abbey, were among the most celebrated royal heraldic displays of the twentieth century. The coin series was conceived to honor both the monarch and the centuries-old tradition of royal heraldry from which those beasts were drawn.

The Unicorn of Scotland has deep roots in Scottish and British heraldry, appearing on the Royal Arms of Scotland and later incorporated into the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. It has represented Scotland on the royal coat of arms since the union of the crowns in the early seventeenth century. The Royal Mint's decision to feature it in the 2018 release reflects not only the creature's visual power but also its enduring symbolic role in the British royal tradition.

The Royal Mint itself has operated continuously for over a thousand years and is one of the most respected sovereign mints in the world. Its products are recognized in bullion markets globally, and its multi-ounce and one-ounce gold issues consistently attract both collector and institutional demand.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the coin features a powerful depiction of the Unicorn of Scotland rendered in high relief, shown rearing with a crown around its neck and a shield bearing the Scottish royal lion rampant. The design was created by sculptor Jody Clark and carries a level of fine detail that distinguishes it from standard bullion issues. The background is plain and polished, allowing the mythological figure to dominate the composition with clarity and impact.

The obverse bears the fifth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, also by Jody Clark, along with the face value, the year of issue, and the inscription "Elizabeth II DEI GRA Regina FID DEF." The coin's finish reflects The Royal Mint's Brilliant Uncirculated standard, characterized by sharp strike definition, clean fields, and a bright, unworked surface that preserves the full visual impact of both designs.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Each coin is struck by The Royal Mint to a confirmed weight of one troy ounce and a purity of .9999 fine gold. The Royal Mint applies rigorous quality standards during production, and the specifications of each coin are backed by the issuing authority of the United Kingdom government. These are not aftermarket claims but guarantees embedded in the coin's legal tender status.

Every product we handle is verified for authenticity and metal content before it reaches a customer. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we maintain direct relationships with the leading third-party grading services in the industry. Buyers who want professionally certified examples of this coin can pursue grading through those services, which provide an additional layer of documentation and protection for higher-value holdings.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated, or BU, indicates that this coin has never been placed in circulation and retains the full quality of the strike as produced by The Royal Mint. The fields are clean, the design elements are crisp, and there is no wear from handling or commerce. It is the standard condition for modern bullion-grade issues from sovereign mints and represents the coin as it left production.

Individual coins are delivered in protective plastic flips to preserve their condition during shipping and handling. Standard tube packaging for The Royal Mint's one-ounce Queen's Beast coins holds ten pieces, and a sealed box typically contains 100 coins. Quantities at the tube or box level ship in their respective sealed formats. If you have questions about a specific quantity or format, our team is available to clarify before you order.

Pricing and Market Factors

The price of this coin is anchored to the live spot price of gold, with a premium added above that base that reflects the coin's production costs, The Royal Mint's standing as a sovereign issuer, and the ongoing collector demand for the Queen's Beast series. Premium levels for this series have historically been higher than for standard bullion coins because of the series' limited annual mintage and its dual appeal to both bullion buyers and numismatic collectors.

Our pricing updates in real time to reflect current market conditions rather than fixed retail markups. The bid/ask spread displayed on this product page gives buyers a complete picture of both the acquisition cost and the current resale value, making it easier to evaluate the true cost of ownership rather than focusing on the spot premium alone.

Selling and Liquidity

The Queen's Beast Unicorn benefits from the broad recognition that comes with Royal Mint issuance, .9999 fine gold content, and a one-ounce format. These characteristics make it straightforward to value and trade in secondary markets, where government-backed gold coins from established sovereign mints consistently attract competitive bids. The series as a whole has built a meaningful following, which supports demand beyond simple spot-based transactions.

We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell precious metals through the same platform. Liquidity is factored into how we present pricing from the start, and buyers can see current buyback pricing before they commit to a purchase. Understanding the resale side before buying is part of how we believe this market should work.

Why Buy the 2018 Queen's Beast Unicorn Gold Coin?

This coin offers a combination of characteristics that few bullion products match simultaneously. It carries the credibility of Royal Mint production, .9999 fine gold purity, and a face value backed by the British government, while also belonging to one of the most recognized and sought-after modern series in the sovereign gold coin market. The Unicorn release is one of the more visually compelling entries in the Queen's Beast program, and its collector demand has consistently exceeded that of generic bullion issues.

For buyers who want a one-ounce gold coin that holds broad market recognition, satisfies both bullion and collector criteria, and represents one of the more distinctive sovereign series of the past decade, the Queen's Beast Unicorn is a compelling option. The 2018 issue is a completed year within a completed series, which adds a layer of collectibility that purely ongoing bullion programs do not offer.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have built our reputation over more than a decade on straightforward pricing, genuine product authentication, and a buying and selling experience that does not rely on pressure or opacity. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau, membership in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association, and authorized dealer status with PCGS and NGC reflect a long-term commitment to operating at the professional standard this market deserves.

Every product we carry is verified before it reaches a customer. Our pricing is transparent and reflects real-time market conditions rather than inflated retail structures. Beyond the transaction itself, we offer responsive customer support, reliable fulfillment, and a two-way market where customers can buy and sell within the same platform. We believe that kind of consistency, from first purchase through eventual resale, is what separates a trustworthy dealer from a transactional one.

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 including the Queen's Beast Unicorn. Rather than applying additional dealer markups on top of wholesale levels, the platform is structured so that premiums and spreads move naturally with market conditions. For a product like this one, where collector demand and limited mintage influence premium levels, having visibility into live wholesale pricing provides meaningful context that standard retail listings simply do not offer.

Pro members also gain access to historical premium data, spread analysis, and proprietary market intelligence tools that make it easier to evaluate where a product sits relative to its own pricing history and current market demand. Real-time portfolio valuation using live wholesale bid prices gives members a more accurate picture of what their holdings are actually worth at any given moment, based on executable prices rather than estimates.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make the purchasing process straightforward and secure regardless of how you prefer to transact. Accepted methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments through BitPay. Each option is integrated into a secure transaction environment designed to protect your information and provide confidence at every step of the process.

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