A new 50p design featuring an image of King Charles III has been unveiled by the Royal Mint and will enter circulation by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, a special memorial coin range commemorating Queen Elizabeth II will be released on Monday at 9am. Charles’ portrait will appear on a £5 crown and a 50p celebrating the Queen.
Nicola Howell, chief commercial officer at the Royal Mint, told the PA news agency: “We expect customers will start to be able to receive the commemorative range from October and then we expect the 50p memorial circulating coin to be appearing in people’s change probably from December.”
The King’s effigy, which has received the personal approval of Charles, was created by sculptor Martin Jennings, the Mint said. As is tradition, the King’s portrait will face to the left, the opposite direction from Queen Elizabeth II.
Chris Barker, of the Royal Mint Museum, said: “Charles has followed that general tradition that we have in British coinage, going all the way back to Charles II actually, that the monarch faces in the opposite direction to their predecessor.”
The Latin inscription surrounding the effigy reads: “:: CHARLES III :: D :: G :: REX :: F :: D :: 5 POUNDS :: 2022”, which translates to: “Charles III, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith”.
The design will start to appear on circulating and commemorative coins produced over the coming months.
The Royal Mint, based in Llantrisant, south Wales, has depicted the royal family on coins for over 1,100 years, documenting each monarch since Alfred the Great.
Anne Jessopp, its chief executive officer, said: “The Royal Mint has been trusted to make coins bearing the monarch’s effigy for over 1,100 years and we are proud to continue this tradition into the reign of King Charles III.
“Although technology has progressed, we continue to honour British craftsmanship passed down through the centuries. Our team of skilled modellers, tool-makers and engravers will ensure that the King’s effigy will be faithfully replicated on to millions of coins.
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“It is a privilege to sculpt the first official effigy of His Majesty and to receive his personal approval for the design. The portrait was sculpted from a photograph of the King, and was inspired by the iconic effigies that have graced Britain’s coins over the centuries.”
This article was amended on 7 October 2022 to correct a translation of the abbreviated Latin inscription on Charles III coinage.
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