First collection of commemorative coins featuring King Charles is unveiled for 2023, celebrating the Windrush generation and the NHS

• The unveiling of this year’s coin collection marks a change in monarch portrait
• Coins in the collection include a £2 to celebrate the life and work of JRR Tolkien
• They can be bought from January for as little as £50 to a platinum set at £10,390

The Windrush generation and the NHS will be celebrated in new commemorative coins for 2023, bearing the King’s official coinage portrait for the first time. 

The unveiling of the new collection symbolises one of the biggest changes to UK coins since decimalisation, the Royal Mint said. 

Collectors will see UK coins make their transition from portraits of Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to the effigy of the King. 

It comes after the Royal Mint was left somewhat red-faced before Christmas after issuing an ‘elf on the shelf’ challenge which saw many social media users reply with unprintable responses.

The set of coins include a £2 coin marking the 100th anniversary of the Flying Scotsman and a £5 coin celebrating the King’s 75th birthday

The first coins bearing the King’s image began circulating on December 8, but this is the first time the commemorative set has been revealed

All new Royal Mint coins struck from January 1 2023 will bear the King’s portrait. 

The first coins bearing the King’s image began circulating on December 8. A total of 4.9 million 50 pence coins featuring the monarch were due to enter circulation throughout the month of December via the Post Office

Rebecca Morgan, divisional director of the collector services at the Royal Mint, said: ‘Each year the Royal Mint reveals a collection of coins, known as the annual set, which feature a range of designs that appear on £5, £2 and 50p coins marking some of the year’s most significant moments and anniversaries.’

Coins in the commemorative collection will mark milestone anniversaries and moments in history, including the King’s 75th birthday. 

The 2023 annual set will include a £5 coin marking the 75th birthday of the King, a £2 coin celebrating the life and work of JRR Tolkien, a £2 coin celebrating the centenary of the Flying Scotsman, a 50p celebrating 75 years of the NHS and a 50p celebrating the Windrush generation. 

In June 1948, a ship called HMT Empire Windrush docked in Essex, having arrived from Jamaica. 

The ship has become symbolic of its passengers and their subsequent generations who have played a pivotal role. 

Two 50p coins in the collection celebrate the Windrush generation (left) and the 75th anniversary of the NHS (right)

Central to the collection is a £5 coin which celebrates King Charles III’s 75th birthday

Two new £2 coins commemorate the life and work of author JRR Tolkien (right), and the centenary of the Flying Scotsman (left)

From January, every single coin minted by the Royal Mint will bear a portrait of King Charles

The 50p coin commemorates 75 years since the ship’s arrival and features a design by artist Valda Jackson, whose parents came to Britain from the Caribbean. 

The Royal Mint previously unveiled the King’s portrait in September 2022, as part of the Queen Elizabeth II memorial coin range. 

Anne Jessopp, CEO of the Royal Mint, said: ‘I am honoured to unveil the first collection of 2023 coins featuring the effigy of King Charles III as we cement our role in history with this next chapter in British coinage. 

‘Our role as an exemplar of British craftsmanship means each coin bearing his portrait is of the highest quality, from the metal it’s struck on, to the hours of craft that’s gone into the design, the tooling and the final product for our customers. 

‘As the official maker of UK coins, the Royal Mint has been proud to strike every single UK coin for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for 70 years. 

‘As we enter the new year, we will start to see one of the biggest changes to UK coins for decades take place as King Charles III’s portrait begins to appear on all new UK coins.’ 

The 2023 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 3 on the Royal Mint’s website, with prices starting from £50. 

A set of silver proof coins will be available for £311 and a gold set can be bought for £7,845. A platinum set can be purchased for £10,390. Each of the coins will also be available individually in 2023, the Mint said. 

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