New coins with King's portrait to be released this week.

This is an exciting week as the first batch of £1 coins featuring the official coin portrait of King Charles III have been released into circulation. Collectors and the public are encouraged to keep an eye out for these new coins as they make their way into our pockets and tills.

Approximately three million of these coins will be distributed throughout the UK this week, starting with Post Offices and banks. The design of the £1 coin showcases a pair of British bees on the 'tails' side, paying tribute to the King's love for conservation and the natural world. On the 'heads' side, you'll find the official coin effigy of King Charles III.

Rebecca Morgan, the director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, expressed her honour in being able to produce the circulating coinage for every monarch since Alfred the Great. She also shared her excitement in revealing the release of the King's £1 coin into circulation. Morgan hopes that the new designs, not just for the £1 coin, but for all denominations ranging from 1p to £2, will spark important conversations about the conservation of our planet's flora and fauna.

A total of 2.975 million of these £1 coins will be issued to banks and Post Offices to co-circulate with the coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II. As the Queen's coins become damaged or worn, they will gradually be replaced with those bearing the effigy of King Charles III.

The £1 coin is one of eight designs, all inspired by different plants and animals, to reflect the King's dedication to the environment. These designs will be used as new definitives, which are standardized designs that make up the majority of official currency. Along with the £1 coin, the remaining designs include the 1p featuring a hazel dormouse, the 2p with a red squirrel, the 5p with an oak tree leaf, the 10p with a capercaillie grouse, the 20p with a puffin, and the £2 with the national flowers of the UK - rose, daffodil, thistle, and shamrock. These designs will be introduced according to demand.

In a poll conducted by the Royal Mint, the £1 bee coin was voted as the favourite, closely followed by the 2p red squirrel. Additionally, each of the coins has a repeating pattern of three interlocking Cs, a nod to history through the cypher of Charles II. The number indicating the value of the coin has also been enlarged to help children improve their counting skills.

In addition to the new coins, banknotes with the portrait of King Charles III entered circulation in June, marking the first time the sovereign has been changed on the Bank of England's notes. It is an exciting time for collectors and the public alike, as we welcome the new designs and celebrate the King's passion for conservation and the natural world.

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