Your change may begin to look very different from this month onwards as the first coins bearing the portrait of King Charles begin to appear in circulation.
The King's portrait first features on 50p coins introduced in UK post offices on Thursday, with the reverse side of the coin bearing a special design commemorating the life of the late Queen Elizabeth. 4.9 million new coins will be entering circulation throughout December, and will be given out as change as normal in post offices.
The design of the new King Charles coinage was unveiled in September, just three weeks after the Queen died at the age of 96. Designed by sculptor Martin Jennings and personally approved by the monarch himself, the King's portrait faces the opposite way to his mother's on the coins in keeping with a long-held tradition.
Meanwhile, coins bearing the Queen's portrait - of which there are around 27 billion across the UK - will remain in circulation as legal tender. The last time that the coinage underwent a change of royal portrait was in 2015, when the Queen's effigy was updated for the fifth time in her 70-year reign.
Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at the Royal Mint, said: “Today marks a new era for UK coinage, with the effigy of King Charles III appearing on 50ps in circulation. It’s a fantastic opportunity for coin collectors to add to their collections, or start one for the first time.
“We anticipate a new generation of coin collectors emerging, with people keeping a close eye on their change to try and spot a new 50p that bears the portrait of our new King. The Royal Mint has been trusted to make coins bearing the monarch’s effigy for over 1,100 years and we are proud to continue this tradition into the reign of King Charles III.”
Nick Read, chief executive of the Post Office, added: “It is a tremendous honour for the Post Office and for postmasters that the first coinage featuring King Charles III is being released into circulation via our extensive branch network. December is our busiest time of the year so the coin will be entering our network in a phased manner. If you don’t receive the new 50p in your change on your first visit to a post office you may well get it in your change in a subsequent visit, so keep a look out for it.”
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