The Last £1 Coins of Queen Elizabeth II Enter Circulation as Charles III Era Expands
A final chapter in Britain’s coinage history is being written, as the very last £1 coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II are now entering circulation. More than 23 million of these coins, dated 2021 and 2022, will soon be turning up in shop tills and pockets across the UK.
The Royal Mint has described the release as a “pivotal moment in British coinage,” symbolizing the end of the Elizabethan era in currency and the continuing transition to the reign of King Charles III.
Alongside the Queen’s final coins, 7.5 million new £1 pieces bearing King Charles’s likeness are also being introduced. His image first appeared on British coinage in 2023, but until now, it has only graced the 50p and £1 denominations.
Rebecca Morgan, the Royal Mint’s director of commemorative coin, reflected on the significance of the moment: “As the last coins of Queen Elizabeth II circulate alongside the growing number of King Charles III pieces, we see a living reminder of monarchy in transition.”
Interestingly, while these Queen Elizabeth coins were struck years ago, they are only being issued now due to a fresh demand for £1 currency. Among them, the 2022-dated coins are expected to be particularly scarce, with just 7.7 million released, making them the rarest of the batch.
The Mint also confirmed that coins from both reigns will circulate side by side for decades to come. Given that the average coin lasts about 20 years, Britons will be carrying reminders of the late Queen in their change well into the future.
The new £1 coins featuring King Charles include an intricate bee motif on the reverse, highlighting the King’s lifelong passion for nature and conservation. This design is just one of eight new motifs that will eventually adorn the full range of coins, from the humble penny to the £2. Other designs will feature beloved British wildlife, including the puffin, red squirrel, and dormouse.
Though the coins remain the same size and shape as before, their updated designs feature larger numerals, making them easier for children to learn counting skills.
This change in coinage follows the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and the accession of her son, King Charles III. Yet all existing coins with the Queen’s portrait remain legal tender, ensuring her enduring presence in everyday life.
For centuries, the Royal Mint in Llantrisant has crafted coins for every British monarch, a tradition stretching all the way back to Alfred the Great. With this latest release, Britons now carry not only currency but also a small piece of royal history in their hands.
