London, UK: The Royal Mint has unveiled a collection of coins featuring the king’s image. Apart from the tradition, the coins bear plant- and animal-inspired designs that represent the four nations.
Under King Charles’s supervision, eight designs have been created showcasing the UK’s diverse flora and fauna. These designs align with his passion for conservation and appreciation of nature. These are the first definitive coins of King Charles III’s reign.
The 1p coin shows a hazel dormouse, the 2p coin displays a red squirrel, the 5p has an oak tree leaf, the 10p showcases the endangered capercaillie, the 20p features a puffin, the 50p portrays a salmon, the £1 exhibits two bees, and the £2 coin highlights symbols representing England (rose), Wales (daffodil), Scotland (thistle), and Northern Ireland (shamrock).
The current coins feature an emblem of the home nations: a rose, a thistle, a shamrock, and a leek, which were introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. The old coins can still be used.
According to the statement, the coins, ranging from the 1p to the £2, will be in circulation by the end of the year.
The Royal Mint’s teams, along with external artists and the RMAC, worked together to craft eight fresh designs.
“Providing feedback throughout the process, His Majesty’s involvement with the design process is testament to his passion for craft and the arts,” as per the Royal Mint.
The Royal Mint is the United Kingdom’s official maker of British coins.