The Royal Mint Releases £1 Coins Bearing King Charles III's Portrait
This week, the first £1 coins featuring the image of King Charles III are being introduced into general circulation across the United Kingdom. Nearly three million of these new coins have been issued to post offices and banks nationwide.
The reverse side of the coin showcases a design celebrating the King's appreciation for the natural world, depicting a pair of bees. While the public will gradually become accustomed to seeing the King's portrait on their coinage, coins bearing the likeness of the late Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation as well.
The Royal Mint's Director, Rebecca Morgan, expressed the honor of unveiling this new £1 coin bearing the effigy of King Charles III, stating that there is sure to be great excitement among collectors and the general public to obtain this historic numismatic item as part of their everyday change.
Bees Featured on New Coin Designs Across All UK Denominations
The new coinage featuring King Charles III will showcase a diverse array of the United Kingdom's flora and fauna, with the bees appearing as part of a set of eight new designs spanning from the 1 penny to the £2 coin.
These new reverse designs, revealed back in October, were created in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, with the intent of drawing attention to the importance and fragility of the natural world. Alongside the bees, the coins will depict other native species like the red squirrel and the capercaillie grouse.
According to Rebecca Morgan, the Director at the Royal Mint, these designs across all denominations are aimed at sparking "important conversations about the conservation of these important species." The size and shape of the coins will remain unchanged to ensure continued compatibility with existing infrastructure like vending machines and parking meters, though the numerals have been enlarged to aid in teaching children to count.
The Royal Mint, located in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has produced the circulating coinage for each of Britain's monarchs dating back to Alfred the Great. While commemorative coins featuring King Charles have already been in circulation, these new 'definitive' designs mark the official transition of the nation's everyday currency to bear the effigy of the new sovereign, replacing the long-standing coinage featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Reference: Noor N. (20 Aug, 2024) New £1 Coin Featuring King Charles III Enters into General Use
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ejnv74dwno King Charles III £1 coin enters circulation
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