Coin collectors are encouraged to keep an eye on their change for a piece of history, as His Majesty King Charles III’s first £1 coin enters circulation this week.
The latest design, featuring British Bees, has been issued to UK Post Offices and banks, with a total of 2.975 million coins making their way into tills across the country.
The tribute to British Bees is one of eight new designs that will appear on the nation’s coins, from the 1p, to the £2, which feature animals such as the Hazel Dormouse, Puffin and the Atlantic Salmon - all species which are in active conservation programmes.
Revealed in October 2023, the new designs highlight His Majesty King Charles III’s passion for conservation. The number indicating the value of each coin has also been enlarged, to help children understand the value of money.
Unifying the new coins is a unique repeating pattern featuring three interlocking C’s. This aspect of the design takes its inspiration from history and the cypher of Charles II, while the flora and fauna look to the future and the importance of the natural world.
Following the reveal of the designs, production of the coins begun with several million struck by The Royal Mint in South Wales. The Atlantic Salmon 50p was the first of the eight designs to enter circulation at the end of 2023.
Rebecca Morgan Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, “The Royal Mint has made the circulating coinage of each of Britain’s monarchs since Alfred the Great and it is an honour to reveal that King Charles III’s £1 coin is now in circulation. We know there’ll be a buzz of excitement amongst collectors and the public to get this special piece of history in their change. We hope the designs across all denominations spark important conversations about the conservation of these important species.”
In a poll hosted by The Royal Mint, the £1 coin was crowned as the favourite among all eight-coin designs, with the 2p depicting the Red Squirrel following closely in second place. Close to 3,000 people cast their votes to crown their favourite design, with the £1 coming out on top with nearly 30% of the votes.
Commemorative sets of the definitive coins are also available from The Royal Mint’s website and are priced from £34 at www.royalmint.com. Each coin has been created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).