After Charles’ coronation, commemorative coins began to circulate and his face also appeared on coins already in use. But now the King gets his own new series of pence and pounds.
The penny depicts a hazel mouse, whose population has halved in England in fifteen years. 2 pence depicts a red squirrel and 5 pence depicts an oak leaf.
The 10 pence coin depicts a capercaillie (a rare bird found in Scotland), the 20 pence coin depicts a puffin, and the 50 pence coin features an Atlantic salmon. One pound features bumblebees and 2 pounds features the national flowers of the four nations of England (rose, daffodil, thistle and clover).
The Royal Mint, the institution that minted the coins, hopes the new coins will help children learn to count and recognize animal figures. The larger song sizes are also noticeable. “It will also appeal to children,” said director Rebecca Morgan.