2020 Royal Menagerie Five Pound Brilliant Uncirculated Tower Of London Mint Pack Coin
A fact that most people will be unaware of is that the Tower of London used to have a zoo, formally called the Royal Menagerie. This 2020 Tower of London BU Five Pound coin pays homage to the former Royal Menagerie housed at the Tower of London. The Historic Royal Palaces organisation has collaborated with the Royal Mint to issue this commemorative cupronickel coin, which is issued in the original limited edition packaging. King John, who ruled over England between 1199 and 1216, was believed to be the first monarch to have kept wild animals at the tower, with contemporary evidence showing payments being made to lionkeepers between 1210 and 1212. Soon there were leopards, a polar bear, an elephant and hyenas present at the castle. By the 18th century, the Royal Menagerie was opened to the public, but by 1828 the zoo had outgrown itself and a decision was made by the Duke of Wellington to close it. The animals were transferred to the recently constructed London Zoo, which is now the main zoological garden for the city. The reverse shows the same outline of a Norman arched window present in the other coins in the series, but with a three lions design which is a nod to both the creatures and the monarchs that called the Tower home. On the obverse, the fifth definitive UK coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II can be seen. It was designed by the Royal Mint engraver, Jody Clark. The coin's specifications are a weight of 28.28 grams, a diameter of 38.61 millimetres. This collectable pre-owned coin is encased in a protective capsule attached to an informative slipcase. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]