The Royal Mint has today shared that production has officially begun on the first coins of King Charles for circulation.
The coins mark the beginning of the transition from Queen Elizabeth II to her son’s portrait on the nation’s coinage.
The historic change also represents the biggest change to UK coinage since decimalisation.
Plus, there will also be a memorial 50 pence in honour of the late Queen appearing in the public’s change through banks and post offices from December.
Workers at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales, will produce 9.6 million copies of the coin to mark the Queen’s death at the age of 96.
The tribute to Her Majesty will feature the design that originally appeared on coins to commemorate her coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953.
It includes the four quarters of the Royal Arms depicted within a shield, with emblems of the home nations – a rose, a thistle, a shamrock and a leek.
Currently, there are around 27 billion coins with the late Queen's portrait, which will remain legal tender, being replaced over time as they become damaged or worn and to meet demand.
Historically, it has been common for coins featuring different monarchs to be used at the same time and this will now happen with coins of the late Queen and Charles.
Kevin Clancy, director of the Royal Mint Museum, said: “For many people, this will be the first time in their lives that they have seen a new monarch appear on money.
“It represents the biggest change to UK coinage since decimalisation and will usher in a new era where the coins of Queen Elizabeth II and Charles co-circulate in the UK.
“The new memorial 50 pence mark a moment in history and honours a landmark reign that lasted for 70 years.”
Following the King and the late Queen's wishes, the coins will be made with minimal waste during the process.
As Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at the Royal Mint, confirmed that “nothing is removed or changed just for change’s sake”.
“It wasn’t unusual to see two or three different monarchs on coins before decimalisation,” she said.
“As a result of decimalisation, most people under the age of 50 only ever have seen Queen Elizabeth II in their pockets.”
The 50 pence coin was chosen as it is one of the most popular for people to start collecting.
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