Charles III Coin Guide UK 2026
Britain's first new monarch in 70 years means an entirely new series of circulating coins. This guide covers every Charles III coin released so far — what they look like, how much they're worth, and which ones are worth holding onto.
The first Charles III coin: 2022 Elizabeth II memorial 50p
Unveiled on 29 September 2022 — eleven days after the Queen's death — the memorial 50p was the first UK coin to carry Charles III's portrait. 5 million entered circulation for December 2022, with a further 5 million minted as brilliant-uncirculated presentation packs. Unlike a typical memorial issue, the coin uses the royal arms reverse (already in use on Elizabeth II 50ps since 2008) rather than a dedicated commemorative design.
Circulated examples trade at £2–£5. The sealed Royal Mint presentation pack in blue card is £8–£15. Silver-proof variants command £80–£120 at Royal Mint resale prices.
The 2023 "Coinage Portrait" definitives
Designer Jonathan Truss revealed a full set of eight definitive coin reverses in late 2023 to replace the Matthew Dent Royal Shield designs. Each coin carries a British native animal relating to conservation:
| Denomination | Animal | Notes | Typical value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1p | Hazel Dormouse | Small mammal of ancient woodland | £1 – £3 |
| 2p | Red Squirrel | Protected UK native species | £1 – £3 |
| 5p | Oak Leaf & Acorn | British oak motif | £2 – £4 |
| 10p | Atlantic Salmon | Scottish rivers & coastlines | £2 – £4 |
| 20p | Puffin | Colonies on UK coasts | £3 – £6 |
| 50p | Atlantic Salmon variant | Shared-reverse for continuity | £4 – £8 |
| £1 | Bees | Pollinator conservation | £5 – £10 |
| £2 | Capercaillie | Scottish Highlands bird | £6 – £12 |
A full 8-coin Royal Mint Definitive BU set from the presentation pack currently retails at £45 new; collector resale prices are £30–£55 depending on packaging condition.
Charles III commemoratives so far
- 2023 Coronation Crown (£5) — Limited mintage of ~200,000 across formats. BU copies £12–£20; silver proof £90+.
- 2023 Royal Maundy set — Traditional silver 1p-4p set given at the King's first Maundy service. Typically £300–£600 at auction.
- 2024 Paddington £5 — A continuation of the popular Paddington series. BU £12–£18.
- 2024 Gruffalo & Gruffalo's Child 50p — Part of the ongoing Children's Literature series. BU £6–£12.
- 2024 The Snowman £5 — Continues the Christmas-themed coinage. BU £15–£25.
How to identify a Charles III coin
- Portrait direction: Charles faces left. Queen Elizabeth II faced right. The alternation between monarchs is a 350-year tradition dating to Charles II.
- Inscription: "CHARLES III D G REX F D" surrounds the bust (previously "ELIZABETH II D G REG F D" for the Queen). The change from REG (queen) to REX (king) is the quickest way to confirm.
- Bust: Uncrowned, facing left — sculpted by Martin Jennings.
- Date: 2022 or later. Any earlier date is a pre-Charles coin.
Featured Charles III coins on MyCoinage
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