A little more detail…

The English Three Lions pound coin, a visual master piece, a unique handcrafted pendants made from an old one pound coins. Each pendant is meticulously hand cut, carved and engraved using traditional engraving chisels and saws. This process is pain staking and very time consuming as the coin is so thick. Each one completely original and unique. Every pendant comes complete with a lovely cotton braided, adjustable neckcord.

The poetic symbolism of the three lions is rooted in medieval heraldry, where the animal represented qualities of immense strength, bravery, nobility, and royalty. While its initial meaning was tied to the military might of kings, the symbol has since evolved in modern poetry and song to embody a complex mix of English national pride.

The original meaning of the three lions comes from the coat of arms of England, a royal emblem dating back to the 12th century. Historically, the lion was the “king of beasts” and symbolized courage and majesty. Monarchs used this image to represent their strength and right to rule. The three lions were added to the English royal arms through medieval dynastic marriages.

One lion: King Henry I (1100–1135), “The Lion of England,” used a single lion on his standard.

Two lions: A second lion was added when Henry I married Adeliza of Louvain, whose family crest also had a lion.

Three lions: The third lion was added when Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose family crest included a lion.

Richard I, or “Richard the Lionheart,” made the three golden lions on a scarlet background the emblem of the English throne in 1198. Some interpret the three lions as representing his three major domains: the Kingdom of England, the Duchy of Normandy, and the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Medieval heraldic tradition sometimes called a lion walking with its head turned to face the viewer (“passant guardant”) a “leopard”. However, the term “lion” became the standard in England.