Are the new King Charles coins valuable? When the new designs enter circulation, and how to get them
An oak leaf, a red squirrel, a puffin and a salmon are just some of the new designs on a series of new coins unveiled by the Royal Mint.
The eight designs, all bearing the face of King Charles, are inspired by flora and fauna found across Britain and reflect the monarch’s passion for conservation and the natural world.
Ranging from 1p to £2, they have been created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
What are the new King Charles coins?
Eight new coins have been released by the Royal Mint with designs overseen by King Charles. They feature plants and animals associated with each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
These include:
- 1p – a hazel dormouse
- 2p – a red squirrel
- 5p – an oak tree leaf
- 10p – the critically endangered woodland grouse the capercaillie
- 20p – a puffin
- 50p – a salmon
- £1 – two bees
- £2 coin – a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland
The new designs – officially known as definitives – marks the final chapter of King Charles’s transition onto British coinage.
They will eventually replace the current shield, which features an emblem of the home nations: a rose, a thistle, a shamrock and a leek, and was introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.
Unifying the new coins is a unique repeating pattern featuring three interlocking C’s.
According to the Royal Mint, 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 edge inscription of the new £2 coin was chosen by the King and reads ‘IN SERVITIO OMNIUM’, Latin for ‘In the service of all’.
It was taken from the King’s inaugural speech on 9 September 2022.
How rare are the new King Charles coins – and are they valuable?
Despite their aesthetic appeal, the new King Charles are neither rare nor valuable. They will start to enter circulation from 2024 in line with demand from banks and UK post offices.
A series of commemorative sets of the new designs are now available for purchase from the Royal Mint priced from £33.
What have people said about the new King Charles coins?
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 added: “It is a privilege to work on the official coins of the nation and to ensure we reflect the King and Britain through our designs. 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.”
