Overview of the Falcon of the Plantagenets 1/4 oz Gold Coin

The 2019 Falcon of the Plantagenets 1/4 oz gold coin is part of the celebrated Queen's Beast series issued by The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom. Struck in .9999 fine gold at a weight of 0.25 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under the authority of the British Crown. The coin is released in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, offering sharp detail and a clean strike consistent with The Royal Mint's manufacturing standards. We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of internationally recognized sovereign gold issues.

History and Background

The Queen's Beast series draws its inspiration from the ten heraldic statues that stood guard at the entrance to Westminster Abbey during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Each creature represented a line of royal ancestry, and The Royal Mint chose to honor that tradition by striking a ten-coin gold and silver series beginning in 2016. The Falcon of the Plantagenets, released in 2019, represents the sixth creature in the series and commemorates one of the most powerful royal dynasties in English history. The Plantagenet dynasty ruled England from 1154 to 1485, encompassing monarchs such as Henry II, Richard I, and Edward I. The white falcon was a personal badge closely associated with Edward IV and later carried through the lineage as a symbol of royal power and vigilance. The Royal Mint's decision to ground the series in documented heraldic history rather than decorative fiction gives each coin a deeper layer of numismatic significance that resonates with both collectors and historians.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of the coin features a bold, highly detailed rendering of the Falcon of the Plantagenets perched atop a shield bearing the arms of Edward IV. The falcon is depicted with outstretched wings and fierce posture, surrounded by a fetterlock, a medieval lock-and-shackle symbol historically paired with the falcon badge. Sculptor Jody Clark, who also created the contemporary effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on modern British coinage, designed the reverse with a level of sculptural depth that carries well even at the smaller 1/4 oz format. The obverse presents Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right with the inscription reading "ELIZABETH II 25 POUNDS." The denomination, expressed in British pounds sterling, confirms the coin's legal tender status. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish allows the raised design elements to stand out cleanly against the field, preserving the precision of the original strike across both sides of the coin.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At 1/4 troy ounce, this coin offers meaningful gold content at a lower acquisition cost compared to the full 1 oz version of the same design. For buyers who want direct exposure to the Queen's Beast series without committing to a full-ounce purchase, the fractional format provides a practical entry point. The smaller size also makes individual coins easier to handle, store, or allocate selectively across a collection. Fractional gold coins do typically carry a higher premium per troy ounce than their full-size counterparts, reflecting the proportionally greater production cost and demand from collectors seeking accessible price points. Buyers acquiring fractional gold should factor that into their overall cost calculation alongside the spot price component.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

The Royal Mint operates under the authority of HM Treasury and has produced coinage for the United Kingdom for over 1,100 years, making it one of the most recognized sovereign minting authorities in the world. Each Queen's Beast coin is struck to exacting standards, with the .9999 fine gold purity and 0.25 oz weight verifiable through the specifications stamped on the coin itself. The Royal Mint's manufacturing consistency means that the coin's dimensions, relief, and surface characteristics are held to tight tolerances across each production run. We are authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, which means customers seeking third-party certification for high-grade or collectible examples have a direct path to professional grading services through us. Every product we handle is verified for authenticity and conformity before it is made available for purchase.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated indicates that this coin was struck for collector quality rather than general circulation, with no wear from handling or transit. The strike is clean, the fields are free of contact marks attributable to the minting process, and the design elements retain their full sharpness. BU coins from The Royal Mint represent standard production quality for their bullion and collector releases, not a hand-polished proof finish, but a well-executed strike without debasement. Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve their condition during transit. The Queen's Beast 1/4 oz gold coins are typically packaged in tubes of 25 by The Royal Mint, and orders of that quantity ship in the corresponding tube. Larger sealed box quantities follow the standard outer packaging configuration used by the mint for wholesale distribution. If you have specific questions about packaging for a particular order size, our team can provide clarification before purchase.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the Falcon of the Plantagenets 1/4 oz gold coin is anchored to the live spot price of gold, with a premium added above that base reflecting the coin's production costs, collector demand, and sovereign issuance. Queen's Beast coins consistently attract premiums above standard bullion issues because they combine official Royal Mint production with a limited, finite series structure. Once a design in the series is no longer in production, secondary market dynamics can shift the premium profile noticeably. The fractional format introduces an additional premium layer relative to the 1 oz version, which is standard across the market for smaller gold denominations. Our pricing is updated in real time to reflect current spot conditions, and the bid/ask spread displayed on our product page provides a transparent view of the full cost picture, including what the coin can be sold back for at current market conditions.

Selling and Liquidity

The Queen's Beast series enjoys broad international recognition among collectors and bullion buyers alike, and the Falcon is one of the more sought-after designs within the series due to its strong heraldic imagery and the historical significance of the Plantagenet dynasty. Royal Mint sovereign coins are widely accepted in resale markets globally, and the .9999 fine gold purity meets the standard required for acceptance through most major dealers and exchanges. We operate a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell coins within our platform. Rather than treating liquidity as an afterthought, we build it into the buying process by displaying current buyback pricing alongside acquisition costs. That structure lets buyers evaluate the complete picture before committing to a purchase rather than discovering resale terms only when they are ready to sell.

Why Buy the Falcon of the Plantagenets 1/4 oz Gold Coin?

Few bullion coin series combine sovereign credibility, documented historical narrative, and collector-driven demand as effectively as the Queen's Beast program. The Falcon specifically stands out for its dynamic design and connection to one of England's most prominent royal dynasties, giving it appeal beyond standard bullion. As a finite series, the Queen's Beast coins are no longer being added to, which means individual designs like the Falcon represent closed production runs rather than ongoing issues. The 1/4 oz format makes this coin an accessible option for buyers who want Royal Mint quality and series collectability without the per-coin cost of the full ounce. For collectors building a complete Queen's Beast set or buyers who prefer spreading purchases across multiple acquisitions, this fractional coin fits naturally into either strategy.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a trusted precious metals dealer since 2010, and our approach has always centered on transparency and long-term customer relationships rather than high-pressure sales. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions, and we display bid/ask spreads directly on each product page so buyers can evaluate both the cost to acquire and the expected value at resale before making a decision. That level of pricing clarity is not universal in this industry, and we consider it a foundational part of how we operate. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau and our membership in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect a consistent track record of professionalism and customer care. As authorized dealers for PCGS and NGC, we are well positioned to assist customers who want their coins graded or certified by the industry's leading third-party services. Every product we offer is verified before it reaches a customer, and our fulfillment and customer service teams are structured to support buyers through the entire process.

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 sovereign gold coins like the Queen's Beast Falcon. Rather than working from estimated or static retail prices, Pro members see real-time pricing that reflects actual wholesale market conditions, including how premiums and bid/ask spreads on fractional gold shift as supply and demand evolve. For a coin with collector-driven demand and a closed production run, understanding how its premium profile has moved over time is more useful than relying on a single current snapshot. Pro also includes real-time portfolio valuation using current wholesale bid prices, giving members a more accurate picture of what their holdings are worth at any given moment rather than applying generic retail estimates. Combined with proprietary product research tools that allow comparison across premiums, spread tightness, and liquidity metrics, the platform is designed to help buyers make decisions based on objective market data rather than assumptions.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make purchasing straightforward and secure. Customers can pay 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 method is processed through a secure transaction environment, and our team is available to assist if any questions arise during checkout. Whether you are completing a single-coin purchase or a larger order, the payment experience is designed to be simple, flexible, and reliable.