BIOT: 2 pounds Queen Beasts series 2021

[Deeman]

Probably, they wanted to depict this breed.

Looks a good call. What is the breed of this Black horse of Hanover?

[Figleaf]

Looks a good call. What is the breed of this Black horse of Hanover?

They are known as Westphalians. They are commonly brown, but not rare in black. Heraldically, the arms of the Brunswick free state, Napoleonic Westphalia and the kingdom of Hannover are a silver (interpreted here as white, I presume) rearing horse on a red field.

Peter

[avle64e]

Looks a good call. What is the breed of this Black horse of Hanover?

I do not know how correctly this will be translated into English. This is a Czech horse breed - the Kladrub or Starokladrub horse (in Czech Starokladrubský kůň, earlier  Equus bohemicus).
Photos with white horses did not seem so expressive. ((((

[Figleaf]

In heraldry, colours usually have nothing to do with reality. Horses can be red or blue. The horse itself is pretty standard, but in the description, you can specify the breed. This is done in the case of Hannover. The horse is specified as a Westphalian, but it looks just the same as any other heraldic horse.

Compare the present arms of the Czech republic. It consists of a climbing Bohemian silver lion with two tails and a golden tongue, a spread red and white checkered eagle for Moravia and a spread black eagle for Silesia. None of these beasts have much to do with nature.

Velký státní znak tvoří čtvrcený štít, v jehož prvním a čtvrtém červeném poli je stříbrný dvouocasý lev ve skoku se zlatou korunou a zlatou zbrojí. Ve druhém modrém poli je stříbrno - červeně šachovaná orlice se zlatou korunou a zlatou zbrojí. Ve třetím zlatém poli je černá orlice se stříbrným půlměsícem zakončeným jetelovými trojlístky a uprostřed s křížkem, se zlatou korunou a červenou zbrojí.

Peter

[MCz]

The White Lion of Mortimer is the next coin in the series. Announced today, will be released 8th August.

[Deeman]

Design features an uncrowned lion with a Yorkist shield bearing a 'white rose en soleil' (golden sun) on a half and half background. The livery of The House of York shield was blue and murrey (mulberry red).

The white rose encircled by a golden sun is a combination of two distinct badges.
Both of these appear on the Great Seals of Edward IV and Richard III, and were used by the Queen's father, George VI, when Duke of York.

The sun was an important symbol Edward IV, who saw it as a sign of good luck in battle. The White Lion of Mortimer descends through Edward IV, from Anne de Mortimer. Sometimes known as the White Lion of March, it was first used by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March (1328-60), a founder Knight of the Order of the Garter. Unlike the fierce Lion of England, the White Lion sits uncrowned, a pose representing loyalty and discipline.

[Deeman]

7th coin from the series, Unicorn of Scotland, issued (shipment from 06/09/2021).

The arms with the lion and the tressure were used as the Arms of Scotland for the first time during the interregnum (English occupation of Scotland) of 1290-92 when the deputies from the kingdom charged their seal with the arms.

Tales of the mythical unicorn date back to around 400 BC. The creature was thought to be huge, strong and fierce, hence the chain was to show the great beast had been tamed to serve the king. Since the 15th century, Scottish monarchs have used the unicorn in their coat of arms. Kings favoured the mythical beast because they considered it to be the best representation of power. James I of England (James VI of Scotland), who united the English and Scottish thrones in 1603, chose the Scottish Unicorn to join the Lion of England in supporting the Royal Arms.

[Deeman]

8th coin of the series now available to order - Griffin of Edward III.

Design features a griffin (in a fashion) with a shield bearing a wreathed Badge of the House of Windsor in a shield on a half and half background. (Livery of The House of Windsor shield is red and gold).

The Royal Badge of the House of Windsor was approved by George VI in 1938. It was the king's suggestion to include the Round Tower (central keep) of Windsor Castle flying the Royal Standard (flown when the sovereign is in residence). He particularly wanted the flag to look as if it was being blown out in the wind. The sprigs of oak in the badge are a reference to Windsor Forest. They define the base of the mount on which the castle stands and support the Royal Crown.

In heraldry the griffin is a sentinel and is a guardian of sacred objects and a talisman against evil. It is a hybrid mythological beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. It was first used as a royal beast by Edward III, the epitome of mediaeval kingship, who founded the Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle in 1348.

[Deeman]

9th coin of the series now available to order - Black Bull of Clarence.

Design features a bull charging with a shield bearing the Arms of England for various reigns from 1399 to 1603 (Henry IV to Elizabeth I).

Edward III first quartered the royal French arms (multiple fleurs-de-lis) with the lions of England, proclaiming his title to the throne of France. In 1399 Henry IV reduced the French arms to just three fleurs-de-lis on a blue field.

The Black Bull of Clarence is a 'Yorkist' beast which came through Edward IV, the first king of England from the House of York and one of the key players in the 'Wars of the Roses'. Assisted by the Earl of Warwick who was known as the 'kingmaker', Edward took power from Henry VI, overturning a troubled Lancastrian rule. Henry VI fled to Scotland, but later briefly returned to the throne before he was finally defeated in battle by Edward in 1461. His execution at the Tower left no doubt over the new king's reign. Edward IV is said to have often used the bull as a symbol, as did his brother, Richard III, the last York king. Edward's original claim to the throne was as the great-grandson of Roger Mortimer, descendent of the Duke of Clarence, who Richard II had named as his successor but who was usurped by his nephew, Henry IV.

[Deeman]

Final coin of the series now available to order - The Falcon of the Plantagenets.

Design features a falcon and a shield bearing the Falcon and Fetterlock Badge of Edward IV on a half and half background. (Livery of The House of York shield was blue and murrey - mulberry red).

Plantagenet monarchs ruled England from the crowning of Henry II in 1154 until the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

The falcon was first used by Edward III (1327-77) as a symbol of his love of hawking. It was used by Edward III's younger sons, John of Gaunt and Edmund of Langley, but always shown locked in recognition of the line of succession. It was widely used by Edward IV, often on the shield, the falcon sitting atop a golden fetterlock, slightly open to symbolise Edward's claim to the English throne (only the rightful monarch or the heir can use an opened fetterlock).

The falcon was later adopted by Henry VII, who united the houses of York and Lancaster, and also by his son Henry VIII. By the reign of Elizabeth I, the falcon had been accepted as an established royal beast. Falcons have a long association with royalty. Trained birds were prized for their hunting ability and regarded as status symbols. In heraldry the falcon represents single-minded determination and if it's shown perched this indicates suitability for high office, which is exactly what you'd want from a monarch.