The first coins with the portrait of King Charles go into circulation

The first coins featuring the portrait of Charles III, who became king after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, go into circulation in the UK today, according to an official announcement.

The new 50 pence coins (nearly 58 cents of the euro) are making their appearance at the country’s post offices, “which will receive 4.9 million of them,” the Royal Mint said.

The unveiling of the official portrait depicted on these coins, the work of sculptor Martin Jennings, took place at the end of September. It was fashioned from a photograph and approved by the king.

As tradition would have it, his face new king it is facing the opposite direction from that of the previous monarch. Charles is therefore looking to the left, while the image of Queen Elizabeth II was facing to the right.

On the reverse of the coins is a motif commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, which depicts the royal coat of arms and the emblems of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom. This pattern was already present on the coins minted at that time. The coronation of Charles III will take place on May 6.

A total of 9.6 million new coins will be put into circulation initially. Around 27 billion coins are currently in circulation in the UK which bear the portrait of the late Elizabeth II: they will remain valid and will not be replaced unless they are damaged or worn.

The first banknotes bearing the image of the new king will go into circulation in mid-2024 and will also gradually replace those bearing the portrait of Elizabeth II when the latter wear out.

RES-EMP

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