More than three weeks after the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK has unveiled new
50-pence
coins featuring the portrait of King Charles III.
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UK unveils new coins featuring King Charles III
The Royal Mint, the official maker of British coins, said coins featuring the portrait of King Charles will enter general circulation within weeks.
The Royal Mint
Charles is shown on the 50p coins facing from right to left, the opposite direction as his mother, in keeping with royal tradition, which reverses the orientation of the coins for successive monarchs.
Charles personally approved the official portrait, which was designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings. The image is surrounded by a Latin inscription which translates as “King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith”.
Twitter/@RoyalMintUK
New coins featuring King Charles will be in circulation later this year
The coins will feature Charles without his crown, as has been the case with previous kings, though Queen Elizabeth II did so in the five coins produced during her reign.
The coins feature the Latin inscription, continuing with the tradition, however, The Royal Mint said that to ensure it was accessible to a modern audience, they adopted the more familiar ‘Charles’.
All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender, according to The Royal Mint, and will be phased out naturally and over time with use.
The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint will also release a commemorative £5 crown featuring images of Queen Elizabeth II near the start and end of her 70-year reign.
King Charles ascended to the throne on September 8, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother.
This week the palace said the cause of death recorded on her death certificate was “old age.” She was 96.
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