2021 2 oz Silver Great Britain Queen's Beasts - Greyhound

The 2021 Greyhound of Richmond is the tenth and final release in The Royal Mint's heralded Queen's Beasts series, which commemorates the royal ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II through ten iconic heraldic creatures. Struck in 2 troy ounces of .9999 fine silver, this Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) coin closes the series with the Greyhound, a symbol of loyalty, service, and swift action, deeply tied to the rise of the Tudor dynasty. Once the personal badge of Henry VII, the Greyhound of Richmond represents both political unity and dynastic power during a critical moment in British royal history.

Historical Insight:

The Greyhound was first used by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and later adopted by his descendant, Henry VII, to emphasize his Lancastrian legitimacy. Upon taking the throne after the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII used the Greyhound to promote Tudor unity and stability, combining Lancaster's red rose with York's white. The Greyhound symbolized loyalty to a just ruler, and its legacy endures as a quiet emblem of British resilience and grace.

Highlights:

• Denomination: £5 (GBP)
• Year: 2021
• Condition: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)
• Issuer: The Royal Mint (United Kingdom)
• Obverse: Features the fifth official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Jody Clark, surrounded by the denomination and standard inscriptions.
• Reverse: Shows the Greyhound of Richmond in a seated, alert posture behind a shield that bears the Tudor Rose--symbol of the unification of the Houses of York and Lancaster. Designed by Jody Clark, the outer ring reads: "GREYHOUND OF RICHMOND," "2 OZ FINE SILVER," "9999," "2021."
• Series: Queen's Beasts (Coin 10 of 10)