King Charles III 10p coins enter circulation for first time

More than seven million new 10p coins bearing the portrait of King Charles III have begun entering circulation across the United Kingdom, marking the first time the denomination has featured the monarch's effigy. The Royal Mint announced the release on August 25, 2026, stating the coins are being issued in response to increased demand for the denomination.

The batch consists of 600,000 coins dated 2023 and 6.5 million dated 2026. They will be distributed to banks and post offices nationwide, with a limited number also available at the Royal Mint Experience visitor centre in South Wales. The release makes the 10p the fourth denomination to carry the King's portrait, following the 5p, 50p, and £1 coins that entered everyday use since 2022.

The reverse, or tails, side of the new coin features an illustration of the capercaillie, a large woodland grouse native to the British Isles. The design is part of the King's Definitive collection, which celebrates the flora and fauna of the British Isles and reflects the monarch's well-known dedication to conservation. The capercaillie is listed as a "Red List" species, with its UK population having declined so rapidly it is at risk of...