The announcement of the official coin effigy and the circulation of new coins bearing King Charles’ face is a big change for Britain. For 70 long years, the UK has been used to using currency and coinage bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Difference one
The Royal Mint has unveiled the new coins featuring King Charles III and there are two key differences that the new coins will have as compared to coins in circulation with Queen Elizabeth II effigy.
King Charles III’s portrait faces in the opposite direction – left – from his mothers. Express.co.uk confirms the monarchs have a long-standing tradition of changing portrait directions, and so it was unlikely for King Charles to face right.
Martin Jennings, a sculptor, sculpted the King's effigy, which he personally authorised, according to the Mint. Chris Barker from the Royal Mint Museum confirmed:
Charles has followed that general tradition that we have in British coinage, going all the way back to Charles II actually, that the monarch faces in the opposite direction to their predecessor.
Difference two
The second difference, and probably the one that makes the most impact, is the missing crown on Charles’ head. Unlike his predecessors and even his mother, Charles has a portrait that doesn’t feature his crown, reports Mirror.
It could be a way for him to show that he plans to slim down the monarchy as the obvious emblem of regality – the crown – is missing from the portrait.
Another interesting difference is the new text on the coin. The Latin inscription reads – :: CHARLES III :: D :: G :: REX :: F :: D :: 5 POUNDS :: 2022.
This basically translates to – ‘King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith.’
Sources Used
Express.co.uk: King Charles III's coin unveiled: Three key differences between the new coin & the Queen's
Mirror: Two key differences between King Charles and Queen Elizabeth coins - can you spot them?
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