A special 50 pence coin celebrating King Charles III’s Coronation in May will begin to appear in circulation across the UK from Thursday.
Britain’s Royal Mint said that bank branches and Post Offices throughout the country will receive five million 50p coins, featuring a design in celebration of the Coronation of the 74-year-old British monarch on 6th May 2023.
This is the second 50p coin bearing the official coin portrait of the King, the first being a memorial coin which entered circulation in December last year to mark the historic transition from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III.
Royal Mint Director of Commemorative Coin, Rebecca Morgan, stated that this would permit the public to have an opportunity to find a piece of history in their change.
The Royal Mint which has had the honour of striking coins for every British monarch since Alfred the Great, takes pride in continuing that long history with the introduction of His Majesty’s official coinage. It is anticipated that the 50p Coronation coins will be highly sought after by coin collectors and members of the public who will be keen to own a piece of British history, and that
In a nod to the location of the King’s Coronation, the tails or reverse side of the new 50p, designed by Royal Mint Coin Designer Natasha Jenkins, features the historic Westminster Abbey in London. The King’s official cypher at the centre of the design represents him at the Abbey – being crowned the Monarch.
The King’s official coin portrait, which was unveiled in September last year and was designed by renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings and personally approved by Charles is featured on the obverse or heads side of the 50p coin.
Differing from the commemorative Coronation coins that were unveiled earlier this year to the public, all 50p coins entering circulation will feature the uncrowned portrait of The King.
A commemorative coin range was unveiled earlier this year by the Royal Mint to mark the King’s Coronation which it says has proved popular around the world observing collectors from 89 countries purchasing them.
All UK coins that bear the effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will remain legal tender and in active circulation. Traditionally, it has been commonplace for coins that feature effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate in the United Kingdom ensuring a smooth transition, with minimal environmental impact and cost.
Approximately 27 billion coins are circulating in the United Kingdom at present, bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Mint said that these would be replaced over time as they become damaged or worn and to meet the demand for additional coins.
