A new 50p design featuring an image of King Charles III has been unveiled by the Royal Mint and will enter circulation by the end of the year, The Guardian reports.
Meanwhile, a special memorial coin range commemorating Queen Elizabeth II will be released on Monday at 9am. Charles’ portrait will appear on a £5 crown and a 50p celebrating the Queen.
Nicola Howell, chief commercial officer at the Royal Mint, told the PA news agency: “We expect customers will start to be able to receive the commemorative range from October and then we expect the 50p memorial circulating coin to be appearing in people’s change probably from December.”
The King’s effigy, which has received the personal approval of Charles, was created by sculptor Martin Jennings, the Mint said. As is tradition, the King’s portrait will face to the left, the opposite direction from Queen Elizabeth II.
Chris Barker, of the Royal Mint Museum, said: “Charles has followed that general tradition that we have in British coinage, going all the way back to Charles II actually, that the monarch faces in the opposite direction to their predecessor.”
The Latin inscription surrounding the effigy reads: “:: CHARLES III :: D :: G :: REX :: F :: D :: 5 POUNDS :: 2022”, which translates to: “Charles III, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith”.
