The Great Engravers – William Wyon 

Starting with William Wyon, The GREAT Engravers Collection is a new series from The Royal Mint celebrating some of the most iconic coin designs in numismatic history. Una and the Lion, created by William Wyon, is the first design to feature in the collection and is widelt considered one the world;s most beautiful designs. For this collection the design has been remastered from an orginal for modern striking techniques and its a fitting place to start this journey through the past. 

Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death 1851, William Wyon was as talented as he was prolific , leaving a legacy few can rival, and his Una and the Lion is a design that stands out above all others. Struck to commemorate the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837, the design casts the young queen in the role of Una, while the lion she leads represents the Britishpeople. 

Aside from his Una and the Lion, Wyon's notable works include his romantic take on St George and the dragon for Prince Albert's personal mdeal of 1845, the magnificent Gothic crown featuring  medieval-style portrait of Queen Victoria, introduced in 1847, and the commemorative medal designed for the Great Exhibition of 1851.