The latest batch of £1 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II is now being introduced into circulation throughout the United Kingdom, as announced by the Royal Mint.
Alongside these coins, there are also 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins being released, totaling more than 23 million new coins in circulation.
The Royal Mint has stated that these final coins bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins currently in active circulation and will be the last ones to display her image.
All coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be accepted as legal tender and remain in circulation to ensure a seamless transition and reduce environmental impact and costs.
The new coins will gradually make their way into circulation in the coming weeks, appearing in pockets and tills across the nation.
Currently, the 50p and £1 coins are the only denominations displaying King Charles III’s portrait, following the introduction of his image on UK coinage in 2023.
The King’s £1 coins, which include an intricate bee design on the reverse, had nearly three million coins released in August of the previous year.
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These coins are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
With approximately 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, the King’s coins make up only about 0.004% of the total, making them highly sought after by collectors.