New UK Coins Celebrate Nature, Conservation, and King Charles III
The Royal Mint is set to launch a new collection of UK coins designed to engage children in counting while celebrating the natural world, according to Rebecca Morgan, the Mint's director. The unique coins feature flora and fauna and are set to enter circulation by the end of this year. While the size and shape of the coins will remain unchanged, the new coins will bring a new look to our pocket change.
The idea behind these coins is to make learning fun for children. The large numbers displayed on each coin will undoubtedly pique their interest and help with counting skills. On top of that, the enchanting depictions of animals, from red squirrels to the capercaillie grouse, are bound to be fantastic conversation starters for kids, further promoting their curiosity and understanding of the natural world.
Although the use of cash and coins has decreased in favour of contactless payments, the Mint believes that a large portion of the population still relies on these traditional forms of currency. It's also a longstanding tradition to commemorate the ascension of a new monarch with a fresh set of coinage, ensuring the continued relevance of coins in our daily lives.
The newly unveiled coins aren't just about numbers and animals but also carry environmental messages. Each coin showcases a different aspect of the UK's rich natural heritage, highlighting the importance and fragility of the natural world:
1p: A hazel dormouse, a species whose population has seen a drastic decline since 2007.
2p: A red squirrel, whose colour blends with the copper coin.
5p: An oak tree leaf, symbolising its role in biodiversity and its historical association with monarchy.
10p: The capercaillie, the world's largest grouse, found in a small part of Scotland and at risk of extinction.
20p: A puffin.
50p: The Atlantic salmon, threatened by river pollution and habitat loss.
£1: Bees, crucial pollinators of the natural world.
£2: National flowers for England (roses) , Wales (daffodils), Scotland (thistles), and Northern Ireland (shamrock).
These new coins will replace the previous shield-themed designs that were introduced in 2008 under Queen Elizabeth II. However, the older coins will still coexist with the new ones for some time with 29 billion coins currently in circulation.
The redesign of these coins also ties into King Charles III's personal passion for conservation and environmental issues. Three interlocking Cs on the coins symbolise the third King Charles and draw inspiration from Charles II's cypher. Moreover, the edge inscription on the £2 coin, chosen by King Charles himself, reads, "In servitio omnium," which means, "In the service of all," taken from his inaugural speech in September 2022. The unveiling of these coins marks the final stage of the transition to a new coinage that corresponds with the coronation of King Charles this year, the first change in the UK's head of state in seven decades. The Royal Mint, based in Wales, is also working on new banknotes featuring King Charles, which will enter circulation next year.
These extraordinary coins symbolise a shift from the traditional heraldic decoration that has long dominated British coinage to a focus on nature conservation and climate change, reflecting the era we live in. The Royal Mint collaborated with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to bring these designs to life, showcasing endangered species and raising awareness about the importance of preserving our natural world.
The release of these coins will follow a consultation process with Post Offices and banks and is expected to last until the end of 2024. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II's coins will remain in circulation and be gradually phased out over time.
