The Most Romantic Coin in British History
The Una and the Lion coin is widely regarded as the most romantic and beautiful coin design in British history. Created by William Wyon in 1839 to commemorate Queen Victoria's coronation, it depicts the young queen as Una from Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene" (1590).
Only around 300–500 proof £5 coins were struck, making originals extraordinarily rare. These were never intended for circulation — purely presentation pieces for collectors and dignitaries. Original specimens in pristine condition have sold at auction for over £500,000, making them virtually unobtainable for most collectors.
This was revolutionary: the first time a British monarch had been depicted as a fictional character on an official coin. Rather than a conventional portrait, Wyon chose allegory — elevating the coin from commemoration to art. He created this at the absolute height of his powers. In 1838, he had been elected an associate of the Royal Academy, the first medallist ever so honored.
Spenser's Allegory
In Edmund Spenser's Renaissance epic "The Faerie Queene," Una represents Truth, Purity, and the Church of England. She is a young princess whose parents have been imprisoned by a dragon. On her quest to free them, she encounters a fierce lion in the wilderness. The lion, captivated by her beauty and inherent goodness, recognizes her virtue and becomes her devoted protector.
The allegory was perfect for eighteen-year-old Victoria beginning her reign. Like Una, she was young and untested, assuming leadership at a turbulent time. The lion represents England itself — initially savage, but willingly tamed by Truth's gentle hand. The message: despite youth and gender (controversial for some), Victoria possessed inherent right to rule that even the mighty British Lion would recognize and obey.
Religious Significance
The Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 had caused considerable Protestant anxiety in Britain. By depicting Victoria as Una — the personification of the True Church in Spenser's Protestant allegory — Wyon was making a powerful statement. The young queen, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, would uphold true religion and lead the English people in righteousness, just as Una led the lion. This reassured Protestant Britain during a period of religious tension.
The Design: Reading the Symbolism
The Composition
Victoria stands as Una, moving from right to left across the coin — heraldically significant, as this direction represents advancing toward the future. On her head sits a delicate coronet. Her hair is carefully arranged in a curly bun at the back of her head. She wears classical robes that drape in the Greek style, evoking timeless virtue rather than contemporary fashion.
In her right hand, Una extends the royal sceptre toward the lion, guiding him forward. In her left hand, she holds the orb — symbol of Christian monarchy, representing the world under Christ's dominion. These coronation regalia establish her unmistakably as sovereign. The orb is topped with a cross, reinforcing religious symbolism.
The lion walks beside her in "passant" position — the heraldic term for a walking lion, exactly as appears in the Royal Arms of England. He is powerful, with a magnificently detailed mane showing individual hairs, yet completely docile under Una's guidance. His head is slightly lowered, looking toward her with devotion. The contrast is striking: barely restrained strength versus serene peace. She guides tremendous power with gentleness.
The Inscriptions
This Latin legend, taken from Psalm 119:133, surrounds the scene. It is a prayer for divine guidance — profoundly appropriate for a young monarch beginning her reign. Victoria, like Una, asks God to guide her steps as she leads the nation. Some variant strikes exist with "DIRIGIT" (God directs) instead of "DIRIGE" (May God direct), shifting from prayer to statement of faith.
Below the lion: MDCCCXXXIX (1839). Wyon's signature appears as W. WYON R.A. — proudly identifying himself as a Royal Academician. The edge inscription reads: DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI TERTIO * (An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign) — a phrase used on British coinage since the 17th century.
Technical & Artistic Mastery
Wyon drew from classical Greek and Roman sculpture, particularly the Phidian works from the Parthenon. The Elgin Marbles, acquired by the British Museum in 1816, had renewed fascination with Greek sculpture. Una's pose — the contrapposto stance, flowing drapery, graceful frozen movement — recalls these ancient masterpieces. Yet Wyon balanced classical form with Romantic content: literary allegory, moral idealism, deep emotion.
The technical execution is extraordinary. Wyon engraved this entirely by hand into hardened steel dies. The coin features unusually high relief, giving genuine three-dimensional sculptural quality. Multiple depth planes create spatial relationships on a disc barely 2mm thick: Una in highest relief, the lion slightly lower, the ground beneath them lower still. This required absolute mastery.
Texture variation demonstrates his skill: smooth flesh, crisp fabric folds, the lion's individual mane hairs, rough ground. Each required different engraving techniques. The facial expression — serene, contemplative, eyes gazing downward and forward — captures subtle emotion in a space less than 2cm high. Both figures are anatomically accurate, showing Wyon's study of form and movement.
Why This Design Endures
Una and the Lion transcends its Victorian origins because it addresses universal themes: youth confronting responsibility, power balanced by gentleness, the feminine guiding the fierce. It presents monarchy not as domination but as guidance — not the lion conquering, but the maiden leading.
This is the perfect synthesis of classical form and Romantic content, technical mastery and emotional depth, political statement and artistic beauty. It represents the absolute pinnacle of 19th-century medallic art — a work so complete in conception and flawless in execution that it has never been surpassed.
William Wyon: Britain's Greatest Engraver
William Wyon (1795–1851) was the most celebrated British coin and medal engraver of the 19th century. Appointed Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint in 1828, he revolutionized British coinage with his neoclassical style and exceptional technical skill.
His "Young Head" portrait of Victoria, used on circulation coins from 1838–1887, defined her image for half a century. Beyond Una, he created the Three Graces pattern (1817) and Gothic Crown (1847) — both featured in the Great Engravers series. His influence on British numismatics was profound, setting aesthetic standards that endured long after his death.
The 2019 Re-Issue
The Royal Mint launched the Great Engravers Collection in November 2019 with this recreation — the first official striking since 1839. Using digital scanning of original dies combined with modern proof technology, the 2019 versions reveal details impossible in the Victorian era.
The coins feature Elizabeth II on the obverse (2019 reigning monarch), with Wyon's Una reverse. Struck in 24-karat gold and .999 fine silver across denominations from 2oz to 5kg, these showcase the design with unprecedented clarity. The five-kilo gold proof is unique (one piece), the two-kilo limited to four pieces worldwide.
For collectors unable to acquire 1839 originals, the 2019 re-issue offers the only opportunity to own this design with museum-quality striking that fully realizes Wyon's artistic vision.