More than seven million King Charles 10p coins are entering circulation across the UK from 25 August, marking the first time the 10p denomination has featured the King’s portrait. The coins will begin appearing in pockets, purses and change across the country as post offices and bank branches start distributing them.
The 10p coin works by carrying a design on its reverse, or ‘tails’ side, that is chosen to reflect a particular theme. These new coins feature the capercaillie, a bird found only in the Scottish Highlands, as part of a wider collection inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
King Charles 10p coins: which designs are entering circulation?
The Royal Mint said that 600,000 coins dated 2023 and 6.5 million dated 2026 bearing Charles’s portrait are being released in response to increased demand for the 10p denomination. The 10p is the fourth denomination to feature the King’s portrait, following the 5p, 50p and £1 coins, which have entered circulation since 2022.
Rebecca Morgan, director at the Royal Mint, described it as ‘a landmark moment for the nation’s coinage, as people begin finding the very first 10p coins bearing the King’s portrait in their change.’
Beyond their numismatic curiosity, the coins carry a conservation message. The capercaillie, found only in the Scottish Highlands, is listed as a ‘Red List’ species, meaning it is considered at very real risk of extinction in the UK for a second time, according to the Royal Mint. Morgan said of the bird’s appearance on the coins: ‘We hope that by putting this extraordinary bird into millions of pockets and purses, we can spark a nationwide conversation about a species at real risk of vanishing from Britain forever.’
The design is part of a collection reflecting the King’s well-documented passion for conservation, giving the series a thematic coherence beyond the routine business of updating royal portraits on currency.
Where the new coins fit in UK currency circulation
Charles coins currently represent just 1% of the 24.142 billion coins in circulation across the UK. Coins bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II remain legal tender and continue to circulate alongside them, with the Royal Mint aiming to manage the transition in a way that minimises environmental impact and cost.
The Mint said that because Charles coins make up such a small proportion of coins in use, the new 10p pieces are likely to be highly sought after by collectors. Some will also be available at tills in the Royal Mint Experience, the Mint’s visitor attraction based in South Wales.
The coins are being issued at a moment when cash, though declining in use, remains part of everyday life for millions of people. UK Finance, the banking and finance industry body, found in a recent report that around 1.4 million UK adults mainly rely on cash for their day-to-day spending. A further 19 million use cash once a month or less often, reflecting a wide spread in how people pay for things.
Cash use fell to 3.9 billion payments in 2025, down from 4.3 billion the previous year, according to UK Finance. Cash represented 8% of all payments in 2025, compared with 9% in 2024 and 45% in 2015. UK Finance projected that by 2035, cash could account for just 4% of payments, amounting to around two billion transactions.
For now, the new 10p coins are available through post offices and bank branches. Anyone who wants to be certain of getting one early can also visit the Royal Mint‘s Experience in South Wales, where a limited number will be available at tills from the release date.
