A King in Your Wallet: Pound Coins Featuring Charles III Enter Circulation

Royal Agenda

The Royal Mint made headlines last year when it unveiled the new circulation coins for the United Kingdom. The bees on the reverse of the coin are one of eight new designs that will appear on the country’s coins from 1p to £2. The reverse of each coin is intended to represent the country’s flora and fauna, featuring animals like the squirrel and the capercaillie, drawing attention to the importance and vulnerability of nature.

The new coins were designed with support from the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The size and shape of the coins remain unchanged from the previous series, ensuring no adjustments are needed for vending machines, self-service checkouts, or parking meters. However, the numerals on the coins have been enlarged to help children recognize and learn to count them.

Coins with Queen’s Effigy Retain Validity

The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, has produced the circulation coins. Although there were already commemorative coins featuring King Charles, these new designs—officially referred to as “definitive”—mark the transition to the new monarch in everyday transactions. They often remain unchanged for years or even decades. The previous set, which featured fragments of a coat of arms, was introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 and, according to the BBC, will continue to make up the majority of the 29 billion coins in circulation in the UK.

Denmark: A matter close to the heart

Not only in the UK, but also in other monarchies on the European continent, people will soon have to get used to new faces on their coins. In Denmark, the first effigy of the new King Frederik X is being prepared, set to appear on the 10 and 20 kroner coins. Additionally, the 1, 2, and 5 kroner coins, which currently feature Queen Margrethe’s monogram, will also be redesigned. However, the Danes will continue to “show heart,” as the symbol of love will remain the official mint mark for the national mint.

Danmarks Nationalbank recently announced that the new circulation coins featuring the King’s image will not be issued until the second half of 2025. In 2024, a 20-kroner commemorative circulation coin will be released, honoring the throne change, featuring the longtime Queen on the reverse and the new King on the obverse. A similar coin was last minted in 1972, when Frederik IX passed away, and Margrethe II ascended the throne.

Whether Danmarks Nationalbank will use the throne change to redesign the value sides of the coins remains unclear—typically, when a new head of state takes office, only the portrait is changed. This is why the redesign of the British circulation coins was “breaking news” from a numismatic perspective—the new King apparently took the opportunity to immortalize not just his image but also his passion on the new coins.

Next Throne Change in a Euro Country: New Motifs from Luxembourg in 2025?

This question does not arise with another upcoming throne change in Europe. When Luxembourg’s current Grand Duke Henri hands over the scepter to his son Guillaume, the value sides of the euro coins will naturally remain unchanged. It is not yet clear when the throne change will take place—this fall, the hereditary Grand Duke will first receive the title of Regent—but many observers believe that Grand Duke Henri will use his 25th throne anniversary in 2025 to retire from royal duties. And perhaps then, not only new obverses for Luxembourg’s circulation coins will be issued, but also a commemorative 2-euro coin or two.