The UK’s Royal Mint on Thursday revealed the first coins to bear King Charles III’s official coinage image, offering collectors the chance to receive the commemorative set with the new monarch’s portrait from January 3, 2023.
The method had been unveiled earlier this year as part of the Queen Elizabeth II memorial coin range, and the all-new coins struck on January 1, 2023, will now bear the 74-year-old King’s portrait.
It symbolizes one of the changes to UK coins since decimalization as collectors will see the country’s coins begin their transition from Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, to her son and heir.
As the official designer of UK coins, the Royal Mint has been proud to strike every single UK coin for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for 70 years enter the New Year, we will start to see one of the big changes to UK coins for decades bring place as King Charles III’s portrait starts to appear on all new UK coins, said Anne Jessopp CEO of the Royal Mint.
The Royal Mint must strike the coins of UK monarchs and has been responsible for doing so since the reign of Alfred the Great, dating back to the ninth century.
“Our role as an exemplar of British craftsmanship points each coin taking his [King’s] portrait is of the highest quality, from the metal it’s hit on, to the hours of craft that’s gone into the design, the tooling and the final product for our customers,” added Jessop.
The Royal Mint’s Annual Sets of memorial banknotes celebrate keys events and anniversaries throughout the year and the 2023 range, known from next week, will include coins celebrating and commemorating the 75th Birthday of Charles in November 2023 with a GBP 5 coin celebrating the energy and work of author JRR Tolkien with a GBP 2 coin celebrating the centenary of Flying Scotsman passenger parade with a GBP 2 coin 75 Years of the National Health Service (NHS) with a 50 pence cash, and 75 Years of the Windrush Generation of 20th-century immigrants to the UK with a 50 pence cash.
Each year the Royal Mint reveals a collection of coins known as the Annual Set features a range of designs that appeared on GBP 5, GBP 2, and 50 pence coins marking the year’s most significant moments, and anniversaries explain Rebecca Morgan Divisional Director of the Collector Services at the Royal Mint.
This year is particularly selected for the Royal Mint, as we unveil the first coins of 2023 bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s official coin portrait, which also includes a commemorative GBP 5 coin to celebrate His Majesty’s 75th birthday. The Annual Set supplies members of the public with an opportunity to collect the very first coins of 2023 with the King’s image and mark this historic change in monarchy on coins, she said.
On November 14, 2023, Charles will mark his 75th birthday, and the coin pays homage to a monarch who, it says, has already finished his life devoted to a variety of good causes as he sets out on a new trip where he has pledged his “lifelong service” to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
The King’s love of wildlife and plants is captured, within the design of his commemorative coin, where the crown, the King’s official cipher, and the numeral 75 are framed, within oak leaves and delphiniums.
The precious metal editions of the coin will also bear an advantage inscription that reads refreshing Harmony with Nature.
The 2023 memorial sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base-proof finishes from next week at the Royal Mint’s website, with costs starting from GBP 50.
The unveiling of this collection of coins symbolizes one of the biggest changes to UK coins since decimalization, as collectors will see UK coins begin the transition from a portrait of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II to her son King Charles III.
Anne Jessopp, CEO of The Royal Mint, remarked the Royal Mint has an official duty to strike the coins of UK rulers and has been accountable for doing so since the reign of Alfred the Great. We were the first Mint to show the effigy of King Charles III in September 2022, and as Deputy Master of the Mint, I am honored to unveil the first collection of 2023 coins featuring the effigy of King Charles III as we cement our role in history with this next chapter in British coinage.
The Royal Mint’s Annual Sets celebrate key events and anniversaries throughout the year, bringing landmarks to life on a £5, £2, or 50p coin. The 2023 Annual Set will contain coins celebrating and commemorating the 75th birthday of His Majesty King Charles III (a special £5 coin), a £2 coin Celebrating the Life and Employment of JRR Tolkien, a £2 coin Celebrating the Centenary of the Flying Scotsman, the 75 Years of the National Health Service 50p and the 75 Years of the Windrush Generation 50p.
Rebecca Morgan, Divisional Director of the Collector Services at The Royal Mint, counted Each year the Royal Mint reveals a collection of the coin, known as the Annual Set, which features a range of designs that appear on £5, £2, and 50p coins make the year’s most significant moments and anniversaries.
The Annual Set supplies members of the public with an opportunity to collect the very first coins of 2023 with The King’s image and mark this historic transition in monarchy on coins.
