Millions of new 10p coins bearing the King's portrait are being released into circulation today, marking the first time the denomination has featured King Charles III. The Royal Mint is issuing 600,000 2023-dated and 6.5 million 2026-dated 10p coins across the UK, responding to increased demand for the denomination.
Design and availability
The 'tails' side of the new coin features the capercaillie bird, a design inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles, reflecting the King's interest in conservation. The new coins will be available from post offices and bank branches.
Until now, the 10p coin has carried a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Those coins will remain legal tender and continue to circulate alongside the new King Charles coins, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal environmental impact, according to the Royal Mint.
Rarity of the new coin
The Royal Mint, the official maker of British coins, said the Charles coins represent just 1% of the 24.14 billion coins in circulation today, making them highly sought after.
The monarch's portrait has already appeared on the 5p, 50p and £1 coins since 2022, following Charles's accession to the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96.
Rarest coins in the UK
For collectors, the rarest UK coin is the 2023 Atlantic salmon 50p, with only 200,000 in circulation. The second-rarest is the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p, of which 210,000 were minted.
Rebecca Morgan, director at the Royal Mint, said: 'This is a landmark moment for the nation's coinage, as people begin finding the very first 10p coins bearing the King's portrait in their change.'
Commenting on the bird design, she said: 'We hope that by putting this extraordinary bird into millions of pockets and purses, we can spark a nationwide conversation about a species at real risk of vanishing from Britain forever.'
