The death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8 marked the end of her unprecedented seven-decade reign and the start of the reign of her son, King Charles III. Major changes will be enacted over the coming months now the nation has a new monarch.
What will King Charles III’s coins look like?
Throughout the Queen’s reign, the Royal Mint struck coins bearing five different portraits of the monarch.
Anne Jessopp, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal Mint, said: “The Royal Mint worked with Her Late Majesty throughout her reign – detailing her journey from new Queen to respected head of state across five coin portraits, and ensuring each new UK coin received her personal seal of approval.
“The remarkable legacy of Britain’s longest-serving monarch will live on for many years to come.”
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The design of King Charles III’s coins has not been released yet, but it stands to reason his portrait will follow a long-held coinage tradition which will make them very different to the Queen’s coins.
Leading coin seller and currency experts Britannia Coin Company said: “Assuming Charles III follows precedent he will face left on his coinage, the opposite way to his mother.
“This practice has been followed in Britain since the 17th Century.
“Controversially, Edward VIII planned to break this tradition (he reportedly preferred his left side).
“It seems unlikely that Charles would want to rock the boat in this way.”
A new coinage portrait of Charles will likely be unveiled now he is King, a different one from those used for previous commemorative coins issued when he was Prince of Wales.
The Chancellor will have to approve coinage portraits, but the new King will get the final sign-off.
During this period of national mourning, the Royal Mint continues to strike coins “as usual”.
What else will change in the UK under a new King?
Postboxes established during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II bore the Queen’s cypher, EIIR.
But postboxes enacted during the new reign will bear the cypher of King Charles III, which will likely be CIIIR or CR.
Stamps will also change to include Charles’ new portrait as the nation’s monarch.
Charles’ mother was the first monarch to be included on banknotes, and his portrait will likely replace hers at a later date too.
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