Coin collectors across the United Kingdom are eagerly seeking King Charles III’s first £1 coin, which entered circulation this week.
The latest design, featuring British bees, has been issued to UK Post Offices and banks, with a total of 2.975 million coins making their way into tills across the country.
This tribute to British bees is one of eight new designs that will appear on the nation’s coins, ranging from the 1p to the £2 denominations. These designs feature animals such as the Hazel Dormouse, Puffin, and Atlantic Salmon—all species currently involved in active conservation programmes.
Revealed in October 2023, the new designs highlight King Charles III’s passion for conservation. Additionally, the value numbers on each coin have been enlarged to help children better understand the value of money.
A unique aspect of the new coin series is a repeating pattern of three interlocking Cs, a design element that takes inspiration from history and the cypher of Charles II, while the flora and fauna motifs look to the future and emphasize the importance of the natural world.
Following the unveiling of the designs, production of the coins began, with several million being struck by The Royal Mint in South Wales. The Atlantic Salmon 50p was the first of the eight new designs to enter circulation at the end of 2023.
Rebecca Morgan, the Mint’s director of commemorative coin, commented, “The Royal Mint has produced the circulating coinage for each of Britain’s monarchs since Alfred the Great, and it is an honour to announce that King Charles III’s £1 coin is now in circulation. We anticipate a buzz of excitement among collectors and the public as they seek to find this special piece of history in their change. We hope the designs across all denominations spark important conversations about the conservation of these vital species.”
In a poll hosted by The Royal Mint, the £1 coin emerged as the favourite among all eight designs, with the 2p, depicting the Red Squirrel, coming in a close second. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the poll, with the £1 coin receiving almost 30 per cent of the votes.
Commemorative sets of these definitive coins are also available for purchase from The Royal Mint’s website, with prices starting at £34. Each coin has been created in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
More information is available at www.royalmint.com.
The new ‘definitive’ coins of the United Kingdom:
| 1p |
Hazel Dormouse
- Small in stature, the hazel dormouse is a fitting presence on the UK 1p coin.
- Mostly found in southern England in the UK, the hazel dormouse population in the UK has halved since 2007.
- However, more than 1,000 have been reintroduced in 13 different counties across the country to reverse the hazel dormouse’s ongoing decline.
|
| 2p |
Red Squirrel
- The red squirrel’s distinctive colouring blends perfectly with the reddish hue of the UK 2p coin.
- With 75% of its UK population found in areas of Scotland, the red squirrel can also be found in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island, Anglesey, Cumbria, Kielder Forest and Formby.
- Conservation efforts are currently in place to manage the population in the UK to avoid it becoming extinct.
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| 5p |
Oak tree leaf
- The UK 5p coin displays a leaf taken from an oak tree, signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in British woodland areas.
- Supporting more life than any other native tree species in the UK, the oak tree has a long association with monarchies, as ancient kings of Britain and Roman Emperors wore crowns of oak leaves.
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| 10p |
Capercaillie
- Found in a small part of Scotland, the capercaillie is the world’s largest grouse and features on the reverse of the UK 10p coin.
- After becoming extinct once before, in the mid eighteenth century, the species is now at risk of becoming extinct for the second time.
|
| 20p |
Puffin
- The unmistakable seabird features on the reverse of the new definitive UK 20p coin.
- Striking in their appearance, around 10% of the worldwide puffin population breeds along the UK’s coastline.
- Classed as a Red List species, the population is predicted to severely regress over the next 30 years but there is hope for the puffin if action is taken to protect their nesting sites and food supply.
|
| 50p |
Atlantic salmon
- A priority conservation species, the Atlantic salmon features on the UK 50p coin.
- Wild populations are low due to factors like river pollution, habitat loss, river heating and overfishing.
- They can be found in clean rivers in Scotland and Wales along with those in North and South West England.
|
| £1 |
Bees
- The £1 features a depiction of a bee, symbolising the 250+ species which exist in Britain.
- Bumblebees, mason bees, mining bees and more – these industrious insects play a pivotal role in pollinating many plants and fruiting trees.
- They can be found all over the country, commonly in gardens, parks, woods, orchards and meadows, and now on the reverse of the UK £1 coin.
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| £2 |
National flowers
- The UK £2 features flora that symbolise the four nations of the country – a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.
- Inspired by The King’s inaugural address on 9 September 2022 and personally approved by His Majesty, the edge inscription reads ‘IN SERVITIO OMNIUM’, which is Latin for ‘In the service of all’.
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