2022 Royal Tudor Beasts Lion of England 1/4oz Gold Coin NGC MS70

The 2022 Royal Tudor Beasts Lion of England 1/4oz Gold Coin marks the beginning of The Royal Mint’s Royal Tudor Beasts bullion series.

Inspired by the heraldic Royal Beasts that line the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace, the collection explores the royal ancestry and symbolism of the Tudor dynasty. The ten beasts represent the lineage of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour.

The Royal Mint selected the Lion of England to launch the bullion collection, describing it as the first bullion coin in the collection and the first beast to feature in the new ten-coin bullion series.

The reverse was designed by artist David Lawrence, taking inspiration from the original Lion of England at Hampton Court Palace. The powerful heraldic lion is depicted holding its shield against a secure surface-animation background texture.

Struck in 999.9 fine gold, the coin contains exactly:

1/4 Troy Ounce of Pure Gold

This particular example has been independently authenticated and certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as:

MS70

At the time of checking on 28 August 2026, the NGC Census supplied for this issue records:

NGC MS70 Population: 41

Higher Grades: 0

NGC Top Pop

This places the coin at the highest numerical Mint State grade available.

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Why This Coin Stands Out

The 2022 Lion of England combines several notable characteristics:

• First bullion coin in The Royal Tudor Beasts collection
• First beast in the ten-coin bullion series
• Certified NGC MS70
• Highest numerical Mint State grade
• NGC MS70 population of just 41 at the time of checking
• 0 graded higher
• NGC Top Pop
• Exactly 1/4 troy ounce of pure gold
• 999.9 fine gold
• Lion of England reverse by David Lawrence
• Fifth and final definitive Queen Elizabeth II portrait by Jody Clark
• Secure surface-animation background texture
• £25 denomination
• Produced by The Royal Mint
• Inspired by the Royal Beasts of Hampton Court Palace

The Royal Mint also confirms that it has now stopped production of Royal Tudor Beasts bullion coins featuring the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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Specifications

Year: 2022
Country of Issue: United Kingdom
Denomination: £25
Series: The Royal Tudor Beasts
Issuing Authority: The Royal Mint
Metal: Gold
Fineness: 999.9 Fine Gold
Fine Gold Content: 1/4 Troy Ounce
Diameter: 22.00mm
Quality: Bullion
Reverse: Lion of England
Reverse Designer: David Lawrence
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Obverse Designer: Jody Clark
Grading Company: NGC
Grade: MS70
NGC MS70 Population: 41
Higher Grades: 0
NGC Status: Top Pop
Population Checked: 28 August 2026

The Royal Mint confirms the £25 denomination, 999.9 fine-gold specification, 22mm diameter, 0.25-troy-ounce pure-gold content, bullion quality and both designers.

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The First Royal Tudor Beasts Bullion Coin

The position of the Lion of England within the Royal Tudor Beasts bullion series is particularly important.

The Royal Mint selected the Lion of England to launch the bullion collection, describing it as the:

first bullion coin in the Royal Tudor Beasts collection

and the:

first beast in the ten-coin bullion series.

This gives the 2022 Lion of England a clear place in the history of the collection.

For collectors assembling the Royal Tudor Beasts specifically in bullion format, the Lion represents the starting point of the series.

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NGC MS70 – The Highest Numerical Mint State Grade

This particular example has been independently authenticated, encapsulated and graded by NGC as:

MS70

NGC’s numerical grading scale runs to 70, making MS70 the highest numerical Mint State grade available.

NGC defines MS70 as a coin with no post-production imperfections visible at 5x magnification.

There is no MS71.

The distinction is particularly relevant for this example because the NGC Census records:

41 examples in MS70

and:

0 in higher grades

making MS70 the Top Pop grade for this issue.

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NGC Population – Just 41 in MS70

At the time of checking on 28 August 2026, the NGC Census supplied for this issue records:

MS68: 22

MS69: 79

MS70: 41

This particular example sits at:

NGC MS70

with a population of:

41

and:

0 graded higher

giving it NGC Top Pop status.

This is a materially different certification position from an MS68 or MS69 example because MS70 represents the highest numerical Mint State grade.

The NGC population should not be confused with the original production quantity. It records how many examples NGC has certified at a particular grade, rather than how many coins The Royal Mint originally produced.

NGC Census figures can change as additional coins are submitted for certification, which is why the population and date of checking are stated together.

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The Lion of England

The Lion of England is one of the heraldic Royal Beasts represented by the stone figures lining the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace.

The Royal Tudor Beasts represent the royal ancestry and dynastic claims associated with Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

The ten beasts are divided between the lineage of the king and that of his third wife, creating a heraldic representation of the dynastic union celebrated at Hampton Court.

The Lion of England was a powerful symbol of royal authority and was chosen by The Royal Mint to begin the bullion series.

For the modern coin, David Lawrence drew inspiration from the original Lion of England at Hampton Court Palace, translating the historic beast into a contemporary numismatic design.

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Designed by David Lawrence

The reverse was created by artist and illustrator David Lawrence.

Lawrence drew inspiration from the original Royal Beasts lining the Moat Bridge at Hampton Court Palace.

His Lion of England is presented as a powerful heraldic beast, holding its shield and displaying a flowing mane and prominent claws.

The reverse also incorporates a:

secure surface-animation background texture

This combines Tudor heraldry with contemporary Royal Mint bullion technology and gives the Royal Tudor Beasts bullion collection its distinctive visual identity.

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The Queen Elizabeth II Obverse

The obverse carries the fifth and final definitive coinage portrait of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark.

The portrait was introduced to British coinage in 2015 and became the final definitive effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used during her reign.

The Royal Mint has subsequently confirmed that it has stopped production of Royal Tudor Beasts bullion coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy.

The 2022 Lion of England therefore belongs to the original Queen Elizabeth II era of the Royal Tudor Beasts bullion series, distinguishing these early issues from later releases carrying the portrait of King Charles III.

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One-Quarter Troy Ounce of 999.9 Fine Gold

Each 2022 Lion of England 1/4oz Gold Bullion Coin contains exactly:

1/4 Troy Ounce of Pure Gold

and is struck in:

999.9 Fine Gold

The Royal Mint specifications confirm:

Denomination: £25
Diameter: 22.00mm
Pure Metal Content: 0.25 Troy Oz
Fineness: 999.9
Quality: Bullion

The quarter-ounce format combines physical gold content with the historical and heraldic character of The Royal Tudor Beasts collection.

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A Top-Pop First-Issue Tudor Beasts Bullion Coin

This particular 2022 Lion of England brings together:

First Royal Tudor Beasts bullion coin

First beast in the ten-coin bullion series

1/4 troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold

NGC MS70 – highest numerical Mint State grade

NGC MS70 population of 41

0 graded higher

NGC Top Pop

David Lawrence Lion of England design

Jody Clark Queen Elizabeth II obverse

Royal Mint manufacture

The MS70 certification is particularly significant because this example sits at the highest numerical grade available, rather than simply being a high-grade Mint State example.

For collectors building a certified Royal Tudor Beasts bullion collection, the 2022 Lion represents the opening issue of the bullion series, while this particular example combines that first-issue status with NGC’s highest numerical Mint State grade.

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Image Information

The slab images shown are digitally produced representations for presentation purposes, with certification numbers and barcodes omitted.

The coin imagery represents the genuine 2022 Royal Tudor Beasts Lion of England 1/4oz Gold Bullion Coin.

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Why Buy from Sterling Bullion Partners?

Every certified coin offered by Sterling Bullion Partners is carefully selected for its quality, authenticity and collector appeal.

When purchasing from Sterling Bullion Partners, you benefit from:

• Carefully selected certified coins
• Independently authenticated and professionally graded examples
• Clear grading and population information
• Fully insured UK delivery
• Secure protective packaging
• Experienced customer support
• A UK precious-metals dealer committed to accuracy and transparency

As the first bullion coin in The Royal Tudor Beasts collection, this 2022 Lion of England combines quarter-ounce physical gold with the significance of the opening bullion issue and Top Pop NGC MS70 certification.

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Related Guides

You may also find these Sterling Bullion Partners guides useful:

• Understanding Coin Grading
• PCGS vs NGC
• Bullion vs Certified Coins: Which Should You Buy?
• Gold Coins vs Gold Bars: Which Should You Buy?
• How to Buy Gold Coins in the UK: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Weight	.25 oz