UK's Royal Mint reveals coin portrait of King Charles III
Britain's Royal Mint unveiled the official effigy of King Charles III that will appear on coins following his accession to the throne.
The effigy is the work of British sculptor Martin Jennings and was personally approved by the new king.
The first coins bearing the king's portrait will be a special £5 coin and a 50 pence coin commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
Jennings said his portrait was sculpted from a photograph 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.
In line with royal tradition, Charles's portrait faces to the left, the opposite direction to his late mother.
A Latin inscription surrounding the effigy translates as "King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith".
The image of Charles will begin to appear on coins in circulation and on commemorative pieces in the coming months, the Royal Mint said in a statement.
Elizabeth died on September 8 following a record-breaking 70 years on the throne.
Kevin Clancy, director of the Royal Mint Museum, said "Over the coming years it will become common for people to find coins bearing His Majesty and Queen Elizabeth II's effigy in their change," he said.
The Royal Mint said historically it had been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate.
There are currently around 27 billion coins circulating in the UK bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
