King Charles III’s new coins to enter circulation by Christmas

UK: Coins featuring King Charles III are set to enter use before Christmas in the UK, where they’ll circulate alongside existing ones depicting Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles is shown facing from right to left, the opposite direction to his mother, following a royal tradition in which coins’ orientation is reversed for successive monarchs.

The king’s portrait, by sculptor Martin Jennings, will first appear on special commemorative £5 and 50-pence coins, with the smaller denomination entering general circulation by Christmas, the Royal Mint said Friday.

Because coins can last 20 years, the 27 billion showing the late queen will not be removed unless they are worn or damaged, according to Anne Jessopp, chief executive officer of the mint, so it will be a while before all the coins change to Charles’ face.

The change comes at no cost to the taxpayer, the mint says, because coins are always being produced to replace ones that are worn. With cash use dropping in favor of cards or mobile payment, fewer coins may be needed in the future. – THE HINDUSTAN TIMES