New £1 coins featuring Charles III go into circulation in the UK

The coins, on the reverse side of which a pair of bees are depicted, mark the king's new reign and celebrate his love for the natural world.

The first £1 coins featuring King Charles III entered circulation in the UK this week, marking the new reign of the British monarch.

According to the BBC on August 20, nearly three million coins were sent to post offices and banks.

The coins, which feature a pair of bees on the reverse, mark the new reign and celebrate the king's love for the natural world. While coins featuring the king will now be in circulation, coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation. New sets of coins are minted in response to demand.

"I am honored to announce that The King Charles III £1 coin is now in circulation. We know there will be excitement among collectors and the public to get this special piece of history in their coin," said Rebecca Morgan, Director of the Royal Mint.

Bees are among the eight new designs that will appear on national coins, from 1 pence to 2 pounds. The new coin designs were unveiled in October.

The coins will feature the flora and fauna of the country, with animals - from the capercaillie to the capercaillie - used to symbolize the importance and fragility of the natural world.

Morgan said she hopes the cross-faith projects will spark "important conversations about the conservation of these important species." Each coin was created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Coin with the image of the king / The Royal Mint

The size and shape of the coins remain the same, which is key as coins are still widely used in vending machines, supermarket checkouts and parking meters. However, the numbers on the coins have been enlarged to help children recognize numbers and learn to count.

"The Royal Mint has struck coins for every British monarch since Alfred the Great," said Morgan. "While commemorative coins featuring King Charles have been in circulation, these new designs - officially known as definitives - mark the transition to everyday coins."

The previous shield-shaped set was introduced under Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 and will continue to dominate the 29 billion coins in circulation in the UK for some time to come.

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