Here we are, the final entry in this year’s “12 Days of Christmas” precious metals challenge, and we’re ending it in true festive style. We’re not just going big, we’re going enormous. There is no gentle finale here, we’re going straight to the top of the mountain with one of the greatest coins ever struck, the 1839 Una and the Lion £5 gold coin.
If the Gothic Crown from yesterday is a masterpiece, the Una and the Lion is divine. This coin sits at the very peak of numismatic desire, a symbol of craftsmanship, rarity and historical significance that few pieces of metal on Earth can match.
Designed during the early reign of Queen Victoria, the coin depicts the young queen as Lady Una guiding the lion, representing the British nation. It is a breathtakingly beautiful design, full of symbolism and Victorian romanticism, and it remains an icon in the coin world nearly two centuries later.
Original specimens are so rare that they almost never appear for sale. When they do, the hammer drops at eye watering prices, well above £240,000 and often much higher depending on grade. This is the sort of coin that stops conversations, the kind of piece collectors dream about but only a tiny handful will ever hold.
Would it grace my collection? Absolutely. Would it grace any collection in the world? Without question. It’s the ultimate grail piece, the crown jewel, the one coin that stands above all others. And so it earns its place as the grand finale for this year’s challenge.
12 Days of Christmas – Final Wishlist (Days 1–12):
Day 1: Junk Silver
Day 2: Generic Bullion Rounds
Day 3: North American Silver Coins (Libertad / American Silver Eagle)
Day 4: Morgan Silver Dollar
Day 5: 1g Gold Bar
Day 6: 2oz Queen’s Beasts Completer Coin
Day 7: 2018 Perth Mint Silver Figure 8 Coin
Day 8: 1/20 oz Chinese Gold Panda
Day 9: Gold Sovereign
Day 10: 1oz Gold Britannia
Day 11: 1847 Victoria Gothic Silver Crown
Day 12: 1839 Una and the Lion £5 Gold Coin
And with that, this year’s precious metals Christmas wishlist comes to a close. Time to cross our fingers and hope Santa has very deep pockets, or at least a generous Secret Santa with impeccable taste.