The Tudor Dragon Roars onto Royal Mint Coins

• The Royal Mint, in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for six sites including Hampton Court Palace - has revealed the latest coin in the ten-coin Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, the Tudor Dragon.
• Commissioned by Henry VIII, these heraldic creatures displayed the power and influence of the House of Tudor.
• Collection artist David Lawrence was inspired by the Tudor Dragon stone sculpture which stands guard on the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace.

Monday 19^th February 2024:

The Royal Mint has today announced the Tudor Dragon, a symbol of regal Welsh heritage, is the latest beast to be commemorated in its Royal Tudor Beasts Collection.

The collection, launched in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces, pays homage to the iconic stone creatures which stand guard on the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace. The animals were commissioned by Henry VIII to display the power and influence of the House of Tudor.

Each coin in the collection has been designed by artist David Lawrence, with each design combining a unique balance of naturalistic elements with stylised, heraldic depictions.

The latest coin in the collection portrays the fiery Tudor Dragon, which was adopted by the House of Tudor to highlight its royal Welsh heritage, dating back to the 7^th century. The Red Dragon was a prominent emblem of Owen Tudor, Henry VIII’s great-grandfather.

In addition to a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, the coin is available struck to Proof standard in fine gold and fine silver. The 1oz silver Proof edition features the edge inscription, ‘HAMPTON COURT PALACE· ROYAL TUDOR BEASTS’.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said: “We are delighted to reveal the latest coin in the ten-coin Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, launched in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces. The Tudor Dragon is a fitting tribute to the spirit of Wales, and we are proud to showcase Welsh heritage and The Royal Mint’s commitment to craftsmanship and tradition.

This timeless collection has been meticulously designed and created in partnership with experts at Historic Royal Palaces and we hope collectors are excited to commemorate the House of Tudor’s history and legacy.”

Jenny Smyth, Licensing Manager at Historic Royal Palaces said: “We are thrilled to launch the next commemorative coin within The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, the Tudor Dragon, in partnership with The Royal Mint. By bringing to life this powerful, mythical creature, with its interesting provenance, we hope to share the fascinating and lesser-known stories of our palaces with even more people.”

Visit The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection | The Royal Mint to view the full collection.