King Charles coins enter circulation in UK as final Queen Elizabeth coins released

New coins bearing the official portrait of King Charles III have entered circulation in the UK. On Wednesday (20 August), the Royal Mint announced that 7,565,000 £1 coins featuring Charles’ effigy with a bee design on the reverse will be distributed within the UK. It also stated that this release includes 23,290,000 of the final £1 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II - the last time £1 coins bearing the late monarch’s portrait will be in circulation. Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said that the release “represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history”. She added: “As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition.”