The Royal Mint has announced that 23.2 million King Charles III 5p coins are entering circulation across the UK. The coins were minted in October 2023 and bear the King’s portrait on the obverse with an oak leaf design on the reverse, symbolising biodiversity in woodlands. The move follows rising demand for the 5p denomination.

It is the first time the 5p bears the King’s effigy, and the last design change for the coin’s 5p denomination in 17 years. The oak leaf design reflects the monarch’s long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, the Mint said, and many people may encounter the new coins in their change in the coming weeks.

A batch of the new coins has been allocated to Post Office branches with oak-themed names or nearby famous trees, including The Oaks Post Office in Dungannon and Jubilee Oak in Braintree. The 5p is the third denomination to carry Charles III’s portrait, following the 50p and £1 coins. Elizabeth II coins remain legal tender during the transition.