A crowned portrait of King Charles will feature on a new range of commemorative coins for the first time to celebrate the upcoming coronation.
The coin collection, which includes a 50p and £5
coin, will be released later this month ahead of the historic May 6
celebration of the British king's crowning.
The effigy, which was designed by artist and sculptor Martin Jennings, depicts King Charles III wearing the Tudor Crown.
The
Tudor Crown was personally selected by the King for the portrait
despite it no longer existing, having been destroyed in the 1640s.
It continues in the tradition of the crown being used in portraits of previous kings from the 20th century, including that of his great grandfather King George VI.
Jennings said he was ‘proud’ to
have created the portrait, which he said was ‘both dignified and
celebratory for this historic occasion’.
The
50p coin will also feature a drawing of Westminster Abbey by The Royal
Mint’s resident designer Natasha Jenkins. The image also includes King
Charles’ cypher and crown to symbolise him being inside the abbey where
he is to be crowned.
The £5 coin features a design by Timothy
Noad of the sacred and symbolic objects used in the coronation ceremony,
known as the Coronation Regalia, and the St Edward’s Crown.
The
coin collection also contains a number of ounce coins that are
available in several editions and sizes, each featuring the crowned
portrait of the King on one side and an intricate design by John
Bergdahl on the other.
According to the Buckingham palace, the 50p coins will be available to buy from 9am on April 24 for between £11 and £1,220, while the £5 coins are priced between £14.50 and £2,995.
A 1kg solid gold proof coin featuring the designs of Mr Jennings and Mr Bergdahl will also go on sale for £77,565.
The
bank of England says Five million 50ps are also set to enter
circulation later in 2023 featuring the original, uncrowned effigy of
Charles by Mr Jennings and the commemorative Westminster Abbey drawing
by Ms Jenkins.
This follows the five million memorial 50ps that entered circulation after the King ascended the throne.
Rebecca
Morgan, director of collector services at The Royal Mint, called the
range ‘a wonderful keepsake of such a historic occasion’.
‘This
is the first coronation that most of us will ever have seen – it has
been 70 years since the last coronation in this country – and we know
lots of people are gearing up to have a huge celebration,’ she said.
‘It
is a historic moment for Britain and people are going to want something
to remember it by and these coins are the perfect choice for that.’
She added: ‘The Royal Mint has struck the coins of the monarchy since the times of Alfred the Great.
‘We are marking a moment in history and a new chapter in British coinage.’
