An official coin featuring King Charles III has been unveiled by the Royal Mint.
Britons will start to see the king's image in their change from around December, as 50p coins depicting him gradually enter circulation to meet demand.
In the meantime, the mint will release a memorial coin range on Monday at 9am to commemorate the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.
The king's portrait will first appear on a special £5 Crown and 50p commemorating the queen.
Nicola Howell, chief commercial officer at the Royal Mint told the PA News agency: “We expect customers will start to be able to receive the commemorative range from October and then we expect the 50p memorial circulating coin to be appearing in people's change probably from December.”
The king's effigy has been created by sculptor Martin Jennings, and has been personally approved by the monarch himself, the Mint said.
In keeping with tradition, the king's portrait faces to the left, the opposite direction to Queen Elizabeth II.
Chris Barker from the Royal Mint Museum said: “Charles has followed that general tradition that we have in British coinage, going all the way back to Charles II actually, that the monarch faces in the opposite direction to their predecessor.”
He described the portrait as: “Dignified and graceful, which reflects his years of service.”
The Latin inscription surrounding the effigy reads: ":: CHARLES III :: D :: G :: REX :: F :: D :: 5 POUNDS :: 2022" which translates to: “King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith”.
The effigy will start to appear on circulating and commemorative coins produced by the Royal Mint in the coming months.
The reverse of the commemorative £5 coin features two new portraits of Queen Elizabeth II.
The design was created by artist John Bergdahl in collaboration with the Royal Mint.
It will form part of a wider memorial coin collection.
The reverse of the 50p features a design that originally appeared on the 1953 Coronation Crown.
It was struck to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation at Westminster Abbey, and includes the four quarters of the Royal Arms depicted within a shield.
In between each shield are emblems of the nations that make up the UK; a rose, a thistle, a shamrock and a leek.
Based in Llantrisant, South Wales, the Royal Mint has depicted the royal family on coins for over 1,100 years, documenting each monarch since Alfred the Great.
Anne Jessopp, chief executive of the Royal Mint, said: “The Royal Mint has been trusted to make coins bearing the monarch's effigy for over 1,100 years and we are proud to continue this tradition into the reign of King Charles III.
“Although technology has progressed, we continue to honour British craftsmanship passed down through the centuries.
“Our team of skilled modellers, tool makers and engravers will ensure that the King's effigy will be faithfully replicated onto millions of coins.
“Her late majesty ruled with heart and devotion for 70 years, and this memorial collection commemorates her remarkable legacy as Britain's longest-serving monarch.
“To ensure everyone can hold a piece of history in their hand, the 50p will also enter circulation in the UK.”
Mr Jennings said: “It is a privilege to sculpt the first official effigy of his majesty and to receive his personal approval for the design.
“The portrait was sculpted from a photograph of the king, and was inspired by the iconic effigies that have graced Britain's coins over the centuries.
“It is the smallest work I have created, but it is humbling to know it will be seen and held by people around the world for centuries to come.”
All UK coins bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender and in active circulation.
Historically it has been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate, helping to minimise the environmental impact and cost.
There are around 27 billion coins currently circulating in the UK bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
These will be replaced over time as they become damaged or worn and to meet demand for additional coins. Dr Kevin Clancy, director of the Royal Mint Museum, said: “Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has graced more coins than any other British monarch in a reign that lasted for 70 years.
“As we move from the Elizabethan to the Carolean era it represents the biggest change to Britain's coinage in decades, and the first time that many people will have seen a different effigy.
“Over the coming years it will become common for people to find coins bearing His Majesty and Queen Elizabeth II's effigy in their change, engaging new generations in the story of Britain's royal family.”
King Charles III through the years — in pictures
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A photo released by Buckingham Palace as they announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer. All Photos: Getty Images unless stated -
King Charles attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in January -
King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic in January. The King had been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate. -
King Charles delivers his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 -
King Charles delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Cop28 Summit in December 2023 in Dubai -
King Charles and Prince William attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in November 2023 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 -
King Charles waters and plants a tree watched by President of Kenya, William Ruto in October 2023 in Nairobi -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden review a guard of honour at Windsor Castle in July 2023 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in July 2023 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after his coronation. PA -
King Charles, carrying the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation in May 2023. AFP -
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May 2023. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, centre, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender during the king's state visit in March 2023 -
King Charles and Camilla during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane, London, in February 2023 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Conservative Party to form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried from Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. AP -
King Charles holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. PA -
King Charles greets members of the public as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles shakes hands with British Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first audience at Buckingham Palace -
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 -
Prince Charles with Camilla and Prince William during the ceremonial state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2022 -
Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to Giza in Egypt in 2021 -
Prince Charles joined members of the British Asian Trust for a short bicycle ride as they launched the charity's Palaces on Wheels cycling event at Highgrove in 2021 -
Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London, in 2019 -
Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry arrive for a Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate in December 2018 -
Prince Charles leads Meghan Markle up the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018 -
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam in 2013 -
Prince Charles and Harry in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, 2011 -
Queen Elizabeth presents Prince Charles with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, west London, in 2009 -
An official portrait to mark Prince Charles's 60th birthday in 2008 -
Prince Charles and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding in April 2005 -
Charles with his sons William and Harry on a ski break at Klosters in Switzerland in 2005 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in Avignon during a state visit to France in 1972 -
Prince Charles learns a soul dance routine at St George's Secondary School in Maida Vale, west London, in 1978 -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana at her funeral in London in September 1997 -
Diana and Prince Charles pose with their sons, Princes William and Harry, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995 -
Prince Charles and Diana on a visit to Nottingham in 1985 -
Diana and Prince Charles with Prince Harry leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, in 1984 -
Prince Charles and his wife Diana with their baby son, Prince William, at home in Kensington Palace in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana with son William in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1981 -
Prince Charles at a polo event in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward, in 1971 -
Prince Charles leaving Caernarfon Castle after his investiture as Prince of Wales, in Gwynedd, 1969 -
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales in 1969 -
Prince Charles playing cricket in 1968. He was playing for Lord Brabourne against a team of Grand Prix racing drivers. -
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Great Park in 1968 -
Prince Charles at the University of Cambridge in 1967, where he was beginning his term at Trinity College -
Queen Elizabeth and her family travel to Sandringham in 1966. Prince Andrew is on her lap, the Duke of Edinburgh to her left with Princess Anne on his lap, and Prince Charles, right -
Prince Charles, walking a Corgi, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and their nanny Mabel Anderson at Euston Station, London, in 1963 -
US President Dwight D Eisenhower, centre, with the British royal family, left to right, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, at Balmoral Castle in 1959 -
Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952 -
A young Prince Charles is perched on the lap of his father the Duke of Edinburgh, while his mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on in the grounds of Windlesham Moor in 1949
