King Charles Celebrates Landmark Coin Milestone As New 10p Pieces Enter Circulation
King Charles has reached a significant milestone as millions of new 10p coins featuring his portrait have entered circulation across the UK for the first time in four years.
The Royal Mint confirmed that seven million of the new coins have now been released, giving members of the public their first opportunity to find the latest King Charles 10p pieces in everyday change.
The reverse of the coin features the capercaillie, a rare bird found in a small part of Scotland that is considered at risk of extinction.
The new design forms part of a wider collection inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles, reflecting Charles’s longstanding passion for conservation and the natural world.
The redesigned collection was originally unveiled by The Royal Mint in October 2023. The latest release has now brought another denomination featuring the monarch’s portrait into everyday circulation.
The Royal Mint said the new 10p coins are being released because of increased demand for the denomination. They become the fourth denomination featuring Charles’s portrait to enter circulation.
The 5p, 50p and £1 coins bearing the King’s portrait entered circulation in 2022. The arrival of the new 10p therefore represents another step in the gradual transition to coinage featuring the current monarch.
The development comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly preparing to return to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Their reported arrival could bring the youngsters closer to their grandfather, King Charles.
Despite the introduction of the new coins, those bearing the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II remain legal tender and continue to circulate across the UK.
The continued circulation of Elizabeth’s coins is part of an effort to ensure the transition between monarchs happens smoothly while minimizing unnecessary environmental impact and additional costs.
Coins featuring Charles currently represent only around one percent of the UK’s approximately 24.142 billion coins in circulation, meaning Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait remains far more common in people’s everyday change.
The capercaillie design has also been chosen to draw attention to the conservation challenges facing the species. The bird is found in only a small area of Scotland and faces the threat of disappearing from Britain.
Rebecca Morgan, director at The Royal Mint, described the release as a landmark moment for the nation’s coinage, noting that people would begin discovering the new 10p pieces in their change.
Morgan also expressed hope that featuring the capercaillie on millions of coins would encourage greater public awareness about the bird and its conservation status.
As the new coins gradually spread through post offices, banks and everyday transactions, they represent another visible change brought about by Charles’s reign. For the King, the design also provides an opportunity to highlight his enduring interest in Britain’s natural heritage.
