The Queen’s Beasts are ten heraldic statues representing the genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II, depicted as the Royal supporters of England. They stood in front of the temporary western annexe to Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Each of the Queen’s Beasts consists of a heraldic beast supporting a shield bearing a badge or arms of a family associated with the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II. They were commissioned by the British Ministry of Works from the sculptor James Woodford, who was paid the sum of £2,750 for the work. At the coronation, they were uncoloured except for their shields. Today, the original plaster statues are on display at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.

The originals drew inspiration from the King’s Beasts of Hampton Court Palace, sculpted in stone for King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Similar heraldic beasts also crown the roofline of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, having been restored in the 1920s.

Centuries later, the Queen’s Beasts inspired one of the most successful modern bullion and collector coin series from the Royal Mint. Launched in 2016 and concluding in 2021, the series featured all ten beasts across gold, silver, and platinum issues, with designs by Royal Mint artist Jody Clark. Each coin highlighted the strength, lineage, and heraldic symbolism of a different beast, beginning with the Lion of England and ending with the Completer Coin, which brought all ten together in one grand design.

The series quickly became a favourite among investors and collectors alike, combining historic heraldry with modern artistry and high-quality minting. The Queen’s Beasts coins stand today as a bridge between royal tradition and contemporary coinage, embodying the enduring legacy of monarchy and heraldic art.