• The first 10p coins to feature His Majesty King Charles III's effigy are now available across the UK, with the endangered Capercaillie appearing on the reverse (tails) side.
• With just over seven million 10p coins featuring the Capercaillie entering circulation, there will soon be more of the bird in people's change than there are left in the wild across the UK.
• The 10p will be available at bank and Post Office branches nationwide.

Under embargo until 00:01 25 August 2026: The Royal Mint has announced that 600,000 2023 dated and 6,500,000 million 2026 dated King Charles III's 10p coins are entering circulation across the UK. This is the first time that a 10p coin bearing The King’s portrait will enter circulation.

The coins, dated and minted in October 2023 and in 2026 are being released due to increased demand for the 10p denomination, marking a significant milestone in British numismatic history.

This represents the first time the 10p denomination has entered circulation bearing His Majesty King Charles III's official portrait. The release creates another opportunity for coin collectors and the public to find these historic pieces in their everyday change.

Since the introduction of His Majesty's portrait on UK coinage in 2022, collectors have been eagerly seeking coins bearing the new royal effigy. With King Charles III coins representing approximately 1% of the 24.142 billion coins currently in circulation across the UK, these new 10p pieces will be highly sought after by both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.

The new 10p coins feature the Capercaillie on the reverse (tails), shines a light on one of the UK's most endangered birds. The Capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is now at very real risk of extinction in the UK for a second time and is listed as a 'Red List' species. The design is part of His Majesty's Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles and highlighting King Charles III's passion for conservation. The coins will be available through post offices and bank branches nationwide.

Rebecca Morgan, Director at The Royal Mint, said: "This is a landmark moment for the nation's coinage, as people begin finding the very first 10p coins bearing The King's portrait in their change. It's what's on the reverse (tails) that makes this coin truly remarkable, the Capercaillie, a bird found only in the Scottish Highlands, and one now teetering on the edge of extinction. It's a stark reminder that more of these coins will enter circulation than there are Capercaillies left in the wild. We hope that by putting this extraordinary bird into millions of pockets and purses, we can spark a nationwide conversation about a species at real risk of vanishing from Britain forever.”

This is the fourth denomination bearing King Charles III’s portrait to enter circulation, the 10p follows on from the 5p, 50p and £1 coin having entered circulation since 2022.

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. A quantity of 10p coins will also be available at tills in the Royal Mint Experience, The Royal Mint’s visitor attraction based in South Wales.

All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender and in active circulation, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal environmental impact and cost.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Revealed in October 2023, the new designs of the UK's coinage highlight His Majesty King Charles III's passion for conservation.
• The 10p coin displays a Capercaillie, which can be found in Scotland and is classed as an endangered species. The design is based on an illustration by the artist Mike Langman who previously worked for the RSPB and who's bird illustrations can still be seen across RSPB nature reserves and the RSPB website.
• Unifying the new coins is a unique repeating pattern featuring three interlocking Cs, taking inspiration from the cypher of Charles II.
• For more information about the new coins and coin collecting, visit www.royalmint.com