The new images of King Charles III which have been unveiled by the Royal Mint. Photo: Royal Mint
The first British coins to feature the image of King Charles have been unveiled by the Royal Mint, with the portrait of the new monarch facing the opposite direction to his late mother Queen Elizabeth in keeping with tradition.
The new image will appear on 50 pence coins, which will begin circulating in the coming months, and also on a commemorative 5 pound coin which also features two new portraits of Elizabeth on its reverse side.
Since the monarchy was restored in 1660 following the 10-year republic of Oliver Cromwell, it has become traditional for the monarch to face in the opposite direction to their predecessor on coins.
Charles personally approved the official portrait, which shows him facing to the left and was done by British sculptor Martin Jennings. The image is surrounded by a Latin inscription which translates as "King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith".
"The portrait was sculpted from a photograph of the King and was inspired by the iconic effigies that have graced Britain's coins over the centuries," Jennings said.
"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."
Queen Elizabeth died on 8 September aged 96 after 70 years on the throne. Some 27 billion coins with her image are in circulation and will remain legal tender as they are gradually phased out over time.
"As we move from the Elizabethan to the Carolean era it represents the biggest change to Britain's coins in decades and the first time that many people will have seen a different effigy," said Kevin Clancy, director of The Royal Mint Museum.
Charles personally approved the official portrait which is used on the coins. Photo: AFP
Queen died of old age
Queen Elizabeth II died of "old age", according to her death certificate, which has been released by the National Records of Scotland.
The certificate records the Queen died at 3.10pm on 8 September in Balmoral Castle, at the age of 96.
Princess Anne was recorded as the person providing the information about the Queen's death.
The Queen with her daughter, Princess Anne, during a visit to a children's project in Glasgow in June 2021. Photo: ANDREW MILLIGAN
For "occupation" of the deceased, the official form said: "Her Majesty the Queen."
The doctor who certified the death at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire was Douglas Glass, who Buckingham Palace said was an "apothecary to the Queen".
When she was alive there was a curtain of privacy around the Queen's health, and in her death there remains some restraint.
Her cause of death was recorded as "old age", without any further details.
"Old age" is only usually given as the sole cause of death in very limited circumstances.
This would be where the certifying doctor has personally cared for someone over a long period; where a gradual decline has been observed and where a doctor is not aware of any identifiable disease or injury contributing to a death.
- Reuters / BBC