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End of an era: Final batch of £1 Queen coins to enter circulation - SKYNEWS
The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II's £1 coins is entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced.
More than 23 million coins depicting the late monarch are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins.
The Royal Mint said the last of the Queen's coins, which are dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation and will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait.
All UK coins depicting the late Queen will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
The new coins will begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation in the coming weeks.
So far, the 50p and £1 coins are the only denominations with the King's portrait to have entered circulation so far, following the introduction of his effigy on UK coinage in 2023.
The King's £1 coins - nearly three million of which were released in August last year - also feature an intricate bee design on the reverse.
They are part of the Definitive collection, which was inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
There are around 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King's coins only representing about 0.004% of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors.
