The red dragon of Wales

The 2oz Silver Red Dragon of Wales is a highly sought-after bullion coin issued by The Royal Mint. Released as the third design in the acclaimed 10-coin Queen’s Beasts series, it holds a unique distinction in British numismatic history. When the series launched, these two-ounce issues represented the first-ever official two-ounce silver bullion coins produced for the United Kingdom. Struck in .9999 fine silver with a legal tender face value of £5, the coin is heavily favored by investors and collectors alike due to its substantial thickness (6mm), exceptional purity, and capital gains tax (CGT) exempt status for UK residents.

The artwork on the coin's reverse was masterfully executed by the globally renowned engraver Jody Clark, who dynamically modernised the ancient heraldic beast. His design features a fierce, winged dragon at full length, with its forked tongue extended and its tail whipping around a shield. The shield itself proudly bears the royal arms of the Prince of Wales. The textured, chainmail-like background pattern on the reverse acts as an anti-counterfeiting measure while making the dragon pop visually. On the obverse side, the coin features Clark's fifth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II set against a matching guilloché background.

The coin's theme is steeped in British royal heritage and Welsh national identity. The Red Dragon was chosen for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 because it represents her ancestral ties to the Tudor dynasty, via Henry VII. While the dragon historically carried a varied reputation in mediaeval Europe, the Welsh embraced it as a proud, enduring symbol of sovereignty, strength, and victory. Today, it remains the defining emblem on the national flag of Wales.