London: Britain's Royal Mint has released the first coins bearing the face of King Charles III.
From around December, coins bearing the image of King Charles III will begin to come into circulation, as 50-pence coins depicting him gradually enter circulation.
The Royal Mint said on Friday that British sculptor Martin Jennings had created the new monarch's image of the new coin and that it had been personally approved by King Charles. In keeping with tradition, the King's portrait faces to the left - the opposite of his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
"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," said Chris Barker at the Royal Mint Museum.
Charles is depicted without a crown. A Latin inscription surrounding the portrait translates to “King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith.”
A separate memorial 5-pound coin remembering the life and legacy of Elizabeth will be released Monday. One side of this coin features Charles, while the reverse side features two new portraits of Elizabeth side by side.
Based in South Wales, the Royal Mint has featured Britain's royal family on coins for more than 1,100 years, documenting every monarch since Alfred the Great.
"When we first used to make coins, that was the only way that people could know what the monarch actually looked like, not in the days of social media like now," said Anne Jessopp, chief executive of the Royal Mint. "So the portrait of King Charles will be on each and every coin as we move forward."
Jennings, the sculptor, said the portrait was sculpted from a photo of Charles.
"It is the smallest work I have created, but it is humbling to know it will be seen and held by people around the world for centuries to come," he said.
Charles acceded to the throne on Sept. 8 upon the death of his mother, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died at age 96.
Around 27 billion coins bearing Elizabeth II's image currently circulate in the United Kingdom All will remain legal tender and be in active circulation, to be replaced over time as they become damaged or worn.