Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Coin Collection be available to purchase?

We have seen unprecedented interest in our collection commemorating the life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We want to ensure that as many people as possible can own a piece of history therefore we are changing the way we set mintages for some of the products in the collection.

Between Monday, 3 October 2022 and Saturday, 31 December 2022, the following coins will not be subject to a Maximum Coin Mintage (MCM):

• Each edition of the UK £5 and 50p Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated coins
• One ounce platinum, one ounce gold and one ounce silver Proof coins
• Quarter-ounce gold Proof coin

The sales window for these coins will close at 9pm on Saturday, 31 December 2022, after which we will not be accepting new orders for these products. We will set the mintage figures for the coins in early 2023 and publish them on our website. Please check the specifications of each coin you would like to purchase before placing your order to see whether a mintage limit has already been set.

Who designed His Majesty King Charles III's portrait?

The portrait has been designed by renowned British Sculptor Martin Jennings. Martin has been making public sculptures in the United Kingdom for many years, including John Betjeman at St Pancras Station and George Orwell outside BBC Broadcasting House.

Who designed the reverse of the memorial £5?

The memorial coin was designed by John Bergdahl and The Royal Mint

When will coins featuring the new portrait enter circulation?

The 50p will enter circulation in the coming months. All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender and in active circulation.

Will coins featuring the commemorative design enter circulation?

Yes, the collection contains a 50p which will enter circulation. As soon as we have more details about the release of these coins we will share them on our social media channels.

Which denominations will be in the collection?

The collection commemorating the life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will include a £5, 50p and an ounces range. You can find out more about the collection on our website

Why do some of the coins in the collection have unlimited mintages?

As the memorial coin has been designed to celebrate Her Late Majesty's life and reign, we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to add a coin to their collection to remember the moment and pass down through generations - so we haven't published mintage figures at present. They will be set at a later date.

Why isn't the King wearing a crown?

Portraits of British kings on their coinage have not included a crown for hundreds of years.

Why does the King's portrait face the opposite way to the Queen?

This is a long-standing tradition which dates back to the Reformation. You can read about the history here: https://www.royalmint.com/stories/collect/coinage-portrait-tradition/

When coins featuring the King's effigy enter circulation, will those featuring the Queen be removed?

Coins featuring Her Late Majesty's portrait will remain in circulation. When there is demand for more coins, the King's coinage will join them - meaning both portraits will appear in change for many years to come.

When will the coin go on sale?

The collection will be released on Monday 3 October at 9 am (UK time). Please note that this only applies to our website. When it is also available in The Royal Mint Experience Shop, we will share an update

When will payment be taken for my order?

When you place an order with us, we carry out a process of authorisation against your credit or debit card. During this time, it will show as a pending transaction. If your order is despatched within 7–10 days, we will then collect your payment. If your product is despatched after this period, the pending transaction is re-credited to your account until your item is despatched. The payment will then be debited in full upon despatch.

For orders containing coins from the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Coin Collection, payment will be taken in full when you place the order and will clear from your account within 10 days of purchase.

Why are orders taking up to 16 weeks to be delivered?

Due to heightened demand, and to ensure that all of our handcrafted products are of the highest standard, orders may take longer than usual to arrive. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to deliver one of the biggest changes to the United Kingdom’s coinage in decades.

Will the memorial coins be available to buy from The Royal Mint Experience from 3 October?

The coins are currently only available to purchase online from 3 October. We will let you know via our social media channels when they are available in The Royal Mint Experience gift shop too.

Why can't I buy the memorial coin from The Royal Mint Experience Gift Shop on 3 October

Coins are currently in production, meaning we don't have any physical stock at present. They will be available as soon as possible, and we'll let customers know via our website and social media.

Will the memorial coin become the Strike your own coin at The Royal Mint Experience?

There are no changes to the strike-your-own coin at present. We will post regular updates on our website.

When will the Harry Potter coin / (any other coin) be released?

We'll be making an announcement on future coin releases soon, so please keep an eye on our social channels. You can also register your interest on our website and we'll email you the latest news

Will any other coins released this year feature the King's portrait?

Only the coins commemorating Her Late Majesty's life and reign will feature the King's portrait this year.

Will the King's portrait feature on the coins in the Annual Sets?

We'll be making an announcement on future coin releases soon, so please keep an eye on our social channels. You can also register your interest on our website and we'll email you the latest news

Why is Charles written in English instead of Latin?

We have continued the tradition of Latin on the coinage of the king, but wanted to ensure it was accessible to a modern audience by adopting the more familiar ‘Charles’