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Royal News

A moment of history as the last £1 coins bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II enter circulation

By
20th August 2025
The last £1 coin featuring the image of Queen Elizabeth II

The last £1 coins bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II are being put in circulation.

It’s a final chapter in this part of a royal story that spanned over seven decades.

The £1 were already struck when Queen Elizabeth died in 2022. There is always a supply ready to replace coins that are no longer in use, either through being lost or wear and tear.

Now over 23 million brand new £1 coins are being released for use. The Royal Mint says they are the rarest of all the £1 coins to bear the image of Elizabeth II.

Although they are entering circulation in 2025, the coins bear the date 2022, the last year of Her Majesty’s reign.

They enter circulation alongside 7.5 million £1 pieces bearing the image of King Charles III.

Pound coins bearing the image of King Charles III
Pound coins bearing the image of King Charles III will enter circulation for the first time (photo by Royal Mint)

This is the first time His Majesty has appeared on the £1 coin that will be used – previous collector only editions had been struck.

On the other side of the Charles III coins is a bee design paying tribute to The King’s passion for nature and the environment. In 2023, it was revealed that the first coins of his reign would feature animals in active conservation projects.

Collectors have been keen to get their hands on a Charles III £1 coin actually in circulation since his reign began.

There are just under 25 billion £1 coins in circulation and the new ones with the image of The King on them will represent just 0.004% of the total.

All money with the image of Queen Elizabeth II on it remains legal tender and will do until it naturally falls out of circulation through wear and tear. At the start of his reign, Charles III made it clear that to save costs and materials, he only wanted money with his image on it produced when it was needed to fill gaps in the circulatory currency.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra.Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024.June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station.June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.