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British Coins: Current Designs, Specs & Symbols (Charles III Era)

UK Circulating Coinage (2023–Present)

Following Queen Elizabeth II's passing, new coins featuring King Charles III (portrait by Martin Jennings) entered circulation in late 2022. Both monarchs' coins circulate together.

Standard Circulating Coins

Denomination	Composition	Diameter	Weight	Obverse	Reverse (Current)
1p (Penny)	Copper-plated steel	20.3 mm	3.56 g	Charles III	Royal Arms (since 2008)
2p	Copper-plated steel	25.9 mm	7.12 g	Charles III	Welsh leek (since 2008)
5p	Nickel-plated steel	18.0 mm	3.25 g	Charles III	Scottish thistle (since 2008)
10p	Nickel-plated steel	24.5 mm	6.50 g	Charles III	Royal Arms (since 2008)
20p	Nickel-plated steel	21.4 mm	5.00 g	Charles III	Tudor rose (since 2008)
50p	Cupronickel (75/25)	27.3 mm (7-sided)	8.00 g	Charles III	Britannia (2022 redesign)
£1	Bi-metallic (NiBrass/CuNi)	23.43 mm (12-sided)	8.75 g	Charles III	Royal Arms (2017 design)
£2	Bi-metallic (NiBrass/CuNi)	28.4 mm	12.00 g	Charles III / Elizabeth II*	Britannia / Tech/History themes

*£2 coins: Charles III version entered circulation 2023; Elizabeth II versions (many commemorative designs) remain legal tender.

Key Design Notes

2008 redesign (Matthew Dent): 1p–£1 form Royal Shield when assembled
£1 2017 redesign: 12-sided, bi-metallic, latent image, micro-lettering (anti-counterfeit)
50p 2022: New Britannia by David Lawrence; Charles III portrait
Commemoratives: 50p, £2, £5 (non-circulating) mark events (Olympics, Brexit, jubilees, etc.)