FIT FOR A KING
Royal Mint reveals eight new coins featuring King Charles – and they’ll appear in your change this year
ROYAL Mint has revealed eight new coins featuring King Charles.
The new coin designs reflect the King's passion for conservation and the natural world.
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The designs, which will feature on coins ranging from the 1p to the £2, will soon start to appear in people's change across the UK.
Flora and fauna inspire the new coins which celebrate creatures such as the red squirrel, the hazel dormouse and the bee.
Flowers and the oak tree leaf are also depicted on the new coins.
All eight coin designs have been approved by the King himself.
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The new change will enter circulation in line with demand from banks and Post Offices.
The Royal Mint expects that the first coins will enter circulation by the end of 2023.
It said that the new definitives – mark the final chapter of the King's transition onto coinage.
But coins featuring the late Queen will continue to exist in people's change, co-circulating with the coins featuring Charles.
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The new coins are unified by a repeating pattern, featuring three interlocking Cs.
This aspect of the design takes its inspiration from history and the cypher of Charles II, while the flora and fauna look to the future and the importance of the natural world, the Royal Mint said.
Anne Jessopp, chief executive officer of the Royal Mint, said: "This is a rare and historic moment as the complete set of UK coins change to celebrate a new monarch on the throne.
"The striking designs have been seen by His Majesty and reflect his commitment to conservation and the natural world, as well as celebrating British craftsmanship."
Gordon Summers, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, said: "Flora and fauna have deep roots in the history of UK coinage, but this is the first time that all eight coins have celebrated nature and wildlife.
"It takes a great deal of skill to create art on a canvas as small as a 1p or £1 coin.
"The Royal Mint has honed our expertise over 1,100 years and we can't wait to see the new coins in the hands of the nation."
Each coin has been created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Collectors can also buy a commemorative set of the new designs from the Royal Mint's website, priced from £33.
Will you find a bee or a red squirrel in your change? Here is a full description of the new coins:
1p – Hazel dormouse
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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.
2p – Red squirrel
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The red squirrel's distinctive colouring blends perfectly with the reddish hue of the UK 2p coin.
With the bulk 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 in place to manage the population in the UK to avoid it becoming extinct.
5p – Oak tree leaf
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The UK 5p coin displays a leaf taken from an oak tree, signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in woodland areas.
Supporting more life than any other native tree species in the UK, the oak tree has a long association with monarchies.
Ancient kings of Britain and Roman Emperors wore crowns of oak leaves.
10p – Capercaillie
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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.
The species became extinct once before, in the mid-18th century.
But it's now at risk of becoming extinct for the second time.
20p – Puffin
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The puffin features on the reverse of the UK 20p coin.
Used as a symbol for books and other items, this clown among seabirds is one of the world's favourite birds.
Classed as a Red List species, there is hope for the puffin if action is taken to protect their nesting sites and food supply.
50p – Atlantic salmon
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The Atlantic salmon features on the reverse of the UK 50p coin.
Wild populations are low due to factors such as 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
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The bumblebee features on the reverse of the UK £1 coin.
These industrious insects play a pivotal role in pollinating many plants and fruiting trees.
They are commonly found in gardens, parks, woods, orchards and meadows – and now on the reverse of the UK £1 coin.
£2 – National flowers
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The coin features a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.
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The edge inscription of the new £2 coin was chosen by Charles and reads: "In servitio omnium", which means: "In the service of all".
It was taken from the King's inaugural speech on September 9 2022.
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