The portrait of King Charles III that will appear on British coins was unveiled by the Royal Mint, the official maker of UK coins.
The image, which will appear for the first time on 5 pound 50 pence commemorative coins to honor the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings and approved by the monarch, according to a statement from the Royal Mint.
According to tradition, the portrait of the King will face to the left, in the opposite direction to that of his mother.
The Latin inscription around the portrait reads: “King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith”.
“It is a privilege to carve Her Majesty’s first official effigy and receive her personal approval for the design,” Jennings said in the statement.
“The portrait was carved from a photograph of the King and was inspired by the iconic effigies that have adorned Britain’s coins over the centuries. It is the smallest work I have created, but it is humbling to know that it will be seen and held by people all over the world for centuries to come.”
The 50 pence coin will be released into general circulation in the coming months, the Royal Mint said.
The reverse of the £5 coin will feature two new portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by artist John Bergdahl.
The reverse of the 50 pence coin will feature a design that originally appeared on the late Queen’s 1953 crown coin. It will include the four quarters of the Royal Weapons represented within a shield.
Between each shield will be the emblem of each nation of the United Kingdom: a rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a shamrock for Northern Ireland and a leek for Wales.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II bestowed more coins than any other British monarch in a reign that spanned 70 years,” said Kevin Clancy, director of the Royal Mint Museum.
“As we move from the Elizabethan to the Caroleian era, it represents the biggest change in Britain’s coinage in decades and the first time many people have seen a different effigy.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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