Five Pound Piece: Una, Guiding the Lion (reverse)

On this five-pound gold coin, a regal figure of Una, personifying truth and beauty, gently guides a powerful lion. Her serene profile, with flowing hair and a delicate crown, is contrasted by the lion's muscular form, its mane meticulously rendered. This reverse side of the 1839 coin draws inspiration from Edmund Spenser's epic poem, The Faerie Queene, where Una tames a lion through her purity. The detailed engraving captures a moment of harmony between strength and grace, a classical ideal brought to life on a small, precious canvas. The coin's design reflects the Neoclassical taste prevalent in the early Victorian era, emphasizing classical themes and idealized forms. It was created by the chief engraver at the Royal Mint, who became a full member of the Royal Academy in 1838.