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New Royal Mint coins celebrate the King's passion for nature and wildlife

The designs are also inspired by flora and fauna, celebrating creatures such as the red squirrel, the hazel dormouse and the bee. The Mint expects the first coins will enter circulation by the end of 2023.

Samuel Osborne

News reporter

Thursday 12 October 2023 18:12, UK

Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Royal Mint
Image: Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Royal Mint
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Eight new coins inspired by the King's passion for conservation and the natural world have been unveiled by the Royal Mint.

The new designs, which will feature on coins ranging from the 1p to the £2, will soon start to appear in people's change across the UK.

The designs are also inspired by flora and fauna, celebrating creatures such as the red squirrel, the hazel dormouse and the bee.

拢2 鈥� National flowers The coin features a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland. Inspired by the King鈥檚 inaugural address on September 9 2022, the edge inscription reads: 鈥淚n servitio omnium鈥�, meaning: 鈥淚n the service of all.鈥� Pic:Royal Mint
Image: Pics: Royal Mint
拢1 鈥� Bees These industrious insects play a pivotal role in pollinating many plants and fruiting trees They are commonly found in gardens, parks, woods, orchards and meadows 鈥� and now on the reverse of the UK 拢1 coin Pic:Royal Mint

Flowers and the oak tree leaf are also depicted on the eight new coins, which have been approved by the King.

Each coin was created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

50p 鈥� Atlantic salmon Wild populations are low due to factors such as river pollution, habitat loss, river heating and overfishing. They can be found in clean rivers in Scotland and Wales along with those in North and South West England.
20p 鈥� Puffin Classed as a Red List species, there is hope for the puffin if action is taken to protect their nesting sites and food supply PicRoyal Mint

The Mint expects the first coins will enter circulation by the end of 2023.

It said the new designs - officially known as definitives - mark the final chapter of the King's transition onto coinage.

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The eight new designs will replace the shield formation introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.

10p 鈥� Capercaillie Found in a small part of Scotland, the capercaillie is the world鈥檚 largest grouse and features on the reverse of the UK 10p coin. After becoming extinct once before, in the mid-18th century, the species is now at risk of becoming extinct for the second time Pic:Royal MInt
5p 鈥� Oak tree leaf The UK 5p coin displays a leaf taken from an oak tree, signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in woodland areas. Supporting more life than any other native tree species in the UK, the oak tree has a long association with monarchies, as ancient kings of Britain and Roman Emperors wore crowns of oak leaves. Pic:Royal Mint

Coins featuring the late Queen will continue to exist in people's change, co-circulating with the coins featuring the King.

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The new coins are unified by a repeating pattern featuring three interlocking Cs, which takes 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 Mint said.

2p 鈥� Red squirrel The red squirrel鈥檚 distinctive colouring blends perfectly with the reddish hue of the UK 2p coin Pic:Royal Mint
1p 鈥� Hazel dormouse Small in stature, the hazel dormouse is a fitting presence on the UK 1p coin. Mostly found in southern England in the UK, the hazel dormouse population in the UK has halved since 2007 Pic:Royal Mint

The edge inscription of the new £2 coin was chosen by the King and reads: "In servitio omnium", which means: "In the service of all." It was taken from the King's inaugural speech on 9 September 2022.

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New 50p coin features The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
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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."

Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Royal Mint
Image: Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Royal Mint

Gordon Summers, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, said: "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."

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