• 23.29 million Queen Elizabeth II and 7.565 million new King Charles III £1 coins, including 170,000 2025 dated, enter circulation.
• This is the last ever batch of £1’s featuring Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy – which will include the rarest £1 in active circulation.
• The new £1 is part of His Majesty’s Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.

The Royal Mint has announced that 30.855 million new £1 coins are entering circulation across the UK.  The release includes 23.29m of the final £1 coins featuring Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II alongside 7.565 million, including 170,000 2025 dated new £1 coins bearing the official portrait of His Majesty King Charles III - marking a poignant moment in British numismatic history.

This historic transition represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain's longest-reigning monarch to her son and successor on the £1 denomination. The Royal Mint can also reveal that the last of the late Queen Elizabeth II pound coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation.

Since the introduction of His Majesty's portrait on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations that have entered circulation bearing His Majesty’s effigy, with coin collectors keen to find them and add to their collections.

The new King Charles III £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse.  The tribute to British Bees is one of eight new designs introduced in 2023 that appear on the nation’s coins, from the 1p to the £2, which feature animals such as the Hazel Dormouse, Puffin and the Atlantic Salmon, all species which are in active conservation programmes.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: "This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition.

“This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting. Coin collecting offers a fascinating window into our nation's history and culture. Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency" added Morgan.

2.975m £1’s featuring the Kings Effigy have already been released in August 2024 but with less coins entering circulation, collectors are turning to commemorative versions of the coins to build their existing collectors, with The Royal Mint’s definitive collection proving popular.  The set includes collectable versions of all King Charles’ new coinage, many of which have not yet entered circulation. 

Currently, there are approximately 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with King Charles III coins representing around 0.004% of the total. This percentage is steadily increasing as new coins enter circulation and older coins are gradually withdrawn, but the small percentage makes the new coins highly desirable with collectors.

The Royal Mint encourages the public to check their change over the coming weeks, as these new coins begin to appear in tills and pockets across the nation.

All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender and in active circulation. Historically it has been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate. This ensures a smooth transition, with minimal environmental impact and cost.

For more information about the new coins and coin collecting, visit www.royalmint.com. His Majesty King Charles III’s £1 coins will also be available in tills at the Royal Mint Experience based in South Wales in the coming weeks.