A new range of commemorative coins has been released by the Royal Mint to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III next month.
The collection includes a 50p and a £5 coin which features the first official crowned coinage portrait of King Charles, designed by artist and sculptor Martin Jennings.
The crown featured in the design is a Tudor Crown which was personally picked by King Charles for the portrait.
The crown itself no longer exists as it was 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.
The £5 coin also 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 50p coin will feature a drawing of Westminster Abbey by The Royal Mint's 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.
Aswell as this, the range also features a number of ounce coins, that are available in several editions and sizes, each featuring the crowned coinage portrait of King Charles on the obverse and a beautiful design by John Bergdahl on the reverse.
If you think you will be able to grab one of these coins after a trip to the shop you will sadly be disappointed as these specific coins won't be in circulation.
Instead, they are collectables and will be made available to buy from the Royal Mint later this month.
If you are an avid coin collector and fancy getting your hands on one then the range of coins will go on sale at 9am on Monday April 24.
The 50p coins have a starting price of £11 and go up to £1,220, while the £5 coins are priced between £14.50 and £2,995.
The 1kg solid gold proof coin featuring the designs of Jennings and Bergdahl will be on sale for a whopping £77,565.
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, said: “The Royal Mint has struck the coins of the monarchy since the times of Alfred the Great.
"The Royal Mint has played a role in coronations for years, traditionally producing coins and medals for previous monarchs.
We are marking a moment in history and a new chapter in British coinage. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow an existing coin collection or to start collecting for the first time.”
Later this year, around five million new 50p coins will enter circulation in the UK which will feature the original uncrowned portrait of King Charles and the commemorative Westminster Abbey drawing.
These coins will be circulated alongside coins featuring the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
