First £1 Coins With King Charles III On Them Enter Circulation
The first £1 coins featuring King Charles III are now in circulation, marking a significant moment in British currency. Almost three million of these coins have been distributed to post offices and banks across the UK, and they are expected to quickly find their way into people’s pockets and tills.
These new £1 coins are part of a broader series of coins that celebrate the King’s love for the natural world. The reverse side of the £1 coin features a pair of bees, chosen to highlight the importance of conservation, a cause close to the King's heart. The bees are just one of several species featured in the new coin designs, which include other British flora and fauna like the red squirrel, the capercaillie grouse, and the puffin.
The new coin designs, unveiled last October, will gradually replace the existing shield designs introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. However, coins bearing the late Queen’s image will remain in circulation until they are worn out and naturally phased out.
Rebecca Morgan, director at the Royal Mint, expressed excitement about the release, saying, "We know there’ll be a buzz of excitement amongst collectors and the public to get this special piece of history in their change."
The Royal Mint hopes that these new designs will spark important conversations about the conservation of the featured species.
The Royal Mint collaborated with the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to ensure the designs reflect the diverse wildlife across the UK. The £2 coin, for instance, features the national flowers of the four nations: a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland, and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.
These new coins also come with practical updates. The numbers indicating the value of each coin have been enlarged to help children learn to count. Despite the fresh designs, the size and shape of the coins remain unchanged to ensure they work seamlessly in vending machines and self-checkout systems.
A public poll conducted by the Royal Mint found that the £1 bee coin was the most popular among the new designs, with the 2p red squirrel coin close behind. As these coins make their way into everyday use, they serve as both a reminder of the new reign and a celebration of the natural world.
