Final £1 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II enter circulation
The Royal Mint has announced that 30.855 million new £1 coins are entering circulation across the UK.
The release includes 23.29 million of the final £1 coins featuring Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II alongside 7.565 million, including 170,000 2025 dated new £1 coins bearing the official portrait of His Majesty King Charles III – marking a poignant moment in British history.
This historic transition represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain’s longest-reigning monarch to her son and successor on the £1 denomination. The Royal Mint can also reveal that the last of the late Queen Elizabeth II pound coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation.
Since the introduction of His Majesty’s portrait on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations that have entered circulation bearing His Majesty’s effigy, with coin collectors keen to find them and add to their collections.
The new King Charles III £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse. The tribute to British Bees is one of eight new designs introduced in 2023 that appear on the nation’s coins, from the 1p to the £2, which feature animals such as the Hazel Dormouse, Puffin, and the Atlantic Salmon, all species which are in active conservation programmes.
“This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we’re witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy’s transition,” said Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint.
“This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting. Coin collecting offers a fascinating window into our nation’s history and culture. Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history, and craftsmanship behind British currency,” she said.
Currently, there are approximately 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with King Charles III coins representing around 0.004% of the total.
This percentage is steadily increasing as new coins enter circulation and older coins are gradually withdrawn, but the small percentage makes the new coins highly desirable to collectors.
All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty 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. This ensures a smooth transition, with minimal environmental impact and cost.
