On 6 May 2023, the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III took place at Westminster Abbey in London – a national event of celebration that came in the same year as His Majesty The King’s milestone 75th birthday.
The year was packed with historic ‘firsts’ for King Charles III, as The Royal Mint also struck the first definitive coins of his reign, which feature eight new reverse designs that take inspiration from the four nations of the country and reflect His Majesty’s passion for conservation and the natural world.
The Last Definitive Changes
The last time all eight circulating coins of the UK featured rejuvenated reverse designs was in 2008. The process began with a competition and by the time it closed on 14 November 2005, 526 people had submitted more than 4,000 designs. As it has done since its establishment in 1922, The Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) carefully studied each entry before selecting a shortlist, the final two of which belonged to ‘Designer E’ and ‘Designer Z’ given the anonymous nature of the coin design approval process. The winning designs belonged to Matt Dent, a young graphic designer who had trained at Coleg Menai in North Wales and later at the University of Brighton. Inspired by heraldry, which has a deep association with the British coinage, the concept featured designs that when placed together form the Shield of the Royal Arms.
From 2008 to 2023, the 1p to the 50p retained their designs, whereas the £2 received a new reverse design in 2015, with Anthony Dufort’s rendition of Britannia replacing Bruce Rushin’s Technology design. Introduced in 2017, the 12-sided £1 coin featured a floral design by David Pearce, a 15-year-old from Walsall.
The Coins of a Carolean Era
The reverse designs for King Charles III’s first definitive coins were produced through a creative and technical collaboration involving the RMAC, The Royal Mint’s Chief Engraver, The Royal Mint’s internal product design and technical teams, the King’s Assay Master and external artists. Exemplifying his passion for craft and the arts, His Majesty provided feedback throughout the process and personally approved the final designs. To change the entire coinage of a country is a truly Herculean task, and one that requires a blend of artistic and technical expertise.
Inspired by conservation and the natural world, the designs also pay tribute to the four nations of the UK. The £2 features a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock representing Northern Ireland, whilst the 5p portrays an oak leaf, the leaf of a tree regarded as a national symbol of strength, wisdom and healing. The rest of the denominations depict wildlife from all over the country, with some classed as endangered and others part of successful conservation programmes. These animals include the bumblebee, the Atlantic salmon, the puffin, the capercaillie, the red squirrel and the hazel dormouse.
A Unifying Pattern
Formed of three interlocking Cs, a pattern that bridges the reign of Charles II with the new Carolean age features on the reverse of each coin. The coins of Charles II displayed a similar motif based on the monarch’s cypher, rendering this new pattern unique to King Charles III. Complementing these definitive coins, The King’s first official coinage portrait, designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings, adorns the obverse of each definitive coin.
A First for the Annual Sets
Some editions of the 2024 Annual Sets include the definitive coins of His Majesty’s reign, making this the first time for them to feature within the presentation. Perfect for new collectors and dedicated numismatists alike, this year’s presentation also serves as a special gift that celebrates iconic figures, organisations and establishments related to British culture.
