The PCGS Certified 2018 Queen’s Beast Unicorn 1oz Gold Coin holds one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold, carries the Unicorn of Scotland and has been graded and sealed by PCGS. As UK legal tender with a £100 face value, it is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents and VAT-exempt as investment gold.

The PCGS 2018 Queen’s Beast Unicorn of Scotland 1oz Gold Coin design

When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, ten plaster statues by the sculptor James Woodford stood at the entrance. Each beast stood for a line of royal descent behind the Queen. The Royal Mint turned them into a bullion series that ran from 2016 to 2021, with every design by Jody Clark, who also created the fifth definitive portrait of the Queen used on the obverse.

The unicorn is Scotland’s royal beast and is always shown chained, a reminder of how dangerous the creature was believed to be. Jody Clark’s design keeps the chain and pairs the unicorn with a shield of the Scottish royal arms.

Reading the shield

Every beast in the series holds a shield. The shield, not just the animal, identifies the family or dynasty the beast stands for, so it is worth looking at both halves of the design.

PCGS grading of the 2018 Queen’s Beast Unicorn of Scotland 1oz Gold Coin

The chain, horn and mane make this one of the busiest reverses in the series, and a sealed holder keeps those raised details sharp.

Grading by PCGS means the coin has been examined by an independent third party, confirmed as genuine, given a grade from 1 to 70 on the Sheldon scale and sealed in a tamper-evident holder. The printed label records the issue and the grade, and its certification number can be looked up on the PCGS website at any time.

Grades vary between individual coins. You will receive the coin at the grade printed on its label, and product photographs are illustrative rather than of the exact coin. Contact our team if you need a particular grade.

PCGS 2018 Queen’s Beast Unicorn of Scotland 1oz Gold Coin specifications

Why buy a PCGS 2018 Queen’s Beast Unicorn of Scotland 1oz Gold Coin?

The Unicorn is among the most popular designs in the series, helped by its place as Scotland’s national animal.

It gives you a full ounce of CGT-exempt gold with a design that suits buyers with a Scottish connection.

Why buy 1oz gold coins?

The one-ounce coin is the standard unit of the gold market. Because gold is priced per troy ounce, a 1oz coin’s metal value is simple to follow, and the larger size usually carries a lower premium per gram than fractional coins. Compared with a large bar, a holding of 1oz coins can still be sold a coin at a time, so you keep flexibility without paying fractional-coin premiums.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the unicorn chained?

Heraldry shows the Scottish unicorn chained because it was thought too fierce to be held any other way.

Which year is the Unicorn in the series?

It was issued in 2018, alongside the Black Bull of Clarence.