Updated on Feb 7 2023
2023 is a big year for UK coin collectors.
The first King Charles III circulating coins have been issued and change checkers are already finding them in their change. New commemorative and investment coins from the UK's national mint have also been updated to show His Majesty. That includes Sovereigns, 50ps and Britannias, as well as a wide range of fresh 2023 collectables.
We've seen a few 2023 coins already but there's more to come since The Royal Mint spreads their releases through the year. Some are part of ongoing series and others we know about through proclamations published in The Gazette. These formal announcements signpost upcoming Royal Mint releases and we can already tell there's some great stuff in the pipeline.
Here's what we know so far about 2023 coins from the UK's national mint.
2023 Annual Sets
New commemorative 2023 UK Annual Sets dropped in January. These eagerly anticipated coin sets feature the five key collectable coins of 2023.
We've got 2023 commemorative sets in stock now, featuring the 2023 75th Birthday £5, the 2023 J R R Tolkien £2, the 2023 Flying Scotsman £2, the 2023 NHS 50p and the 2023 Windrush 50p. You can find out more about these coins below but right now most are only available in these collector's sets.
We're offering an extensive range of 2023 commemorative annual sets including:
- 2023 BU Set
- 2023 Proof Set
- 2023 Premium Proof Set
- 2023 Silver Proof Set
- 2023 Piedfort Silver Proof Set
- 2023 Gold Proof Set
- 2023 Platinum Proof Set
No definitive annual sets have yet been made available. Definitive sets include the standard designs that feature on the money in circulation like the Britannia £2 and the shield design that appears on modern 50ps. Usually, definitive sets are released at the same time as the commemorative sets with some larger sets including both types of coins. The delayed release might have something to do with the new One Pound coin due to be released this year. More on that below.
King Charles III Sovereigns
The first King Charles III gold Sovereigns were actually issued in 2022. That made last year the first to feature two distinct Sovereign designs, one created by Timothy Noad to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee and the latter as a tribute to Her Majesty life and legacy, shortly after her passing in September. Designed by Jody Clark and featuring Martin Jennings' new royal portrait, the Memorial Sovereign is dated 2022 but was actually issued in early 2023. We’ve got a limited number of Memorial proof coins, sets and bullion investment pieces in stock at the time of writing.
View the range here: 2022 Memorial Sovereigns.
Sometime soon we'll also see a 2023-dated Sovereign range. Sovereigns have a close connection to the monarchy (it's in the name!) and previous issues have featured special designs to mark special royal occasions like jubilees. As 2023 is King Charles' coronation year, can we assume that these forthcoming Sovereigns will also feature a special design? If not, we’re always glad to see Benedetto Pistrucci's classic St George and the dragon motif, a mainstay on these 22-carat coins for the last two centuries.
Sign up for our product alerts now to be the first to get hold of 2023 Sovereigns. We’ll email you as soon as we have these items in stock.
Here's what we think 2023 King Charles III proof Sovereigns will look like if the traditional St George reverse is used.
2023 Coronation Collection
An extensive collection of Royal Mint coins has now been confirmed to commemorate King Charles’ coronation. On 6 May, His Majesty will be crowned in Westminster Abbey and we'll all watch the pomp and pageantry on TV.
If the Coronation Collection is anything like the Platinum Jubilee collection we can expect several different designs across 50ps, £5 Crowns and some ounce coins, created by the UK's top coin artists.
We've not got any further details on the King Charles III Coronation collection as yet but we'll let you know the moment that we do.
The Harry Potter Collection
2023 will see the release of two new coins in the 25 Years of Magic collection with spellbinding designs based on Jim Kay's Harry Potter illustrations. The Royal Mint are conjuring up 50ps and ounce coins featuring Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the coming months.
While the first two coins in the set (Harry Potter and Hogwarts Express) show Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, the next two will use Martin Jennings' portrait of King Charles.
Find out more and get a full product list on the BCC blog: Accio Numismatica! Royal Mint to Conjure Up Harry Potter Coins.
The first releases in the 25 Years of Magic collection featured Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Express, shown here in colour-printed silver proof.
New Great Engravers Design
The Great Engravers is a premium coin collection from The Royal Mint celebrating the numismatic art of the past through reissues of some of the most beautiful designs ever to grace UK coinage. So far the Great Engravers series has focused on designs by 19th-century Royal Mint engraver William Wyon, including his Una and the Lion, Three Graces and Gothic Crown. The Gothic Crown was split into two designs - the Quartered Arms and the Victoria Portrait - both released with a 2021 date.
Will we see another Wyon design in 2023? Or will the Great Engravers look to another British engraver for the next issue? More details as soon as we have them.
New British Monarchs Coins
The Royal Mint's definitely looking to the past for inspiration at the moment and the British Monarchs collection, launched in 2022, is a testament to this. The coins in this range celebrate some of the remarkable Kings and Queens that have graced British money down the centuries. 21 coins are planned but we can expect four to be released in 2023:
- King Henry VIII (1509-1547)
- King Charles II (1660-1685)
- King George II (1727-1760)
These precious metal coins will feature remastered versions of historic royal coin portraits. The Mint's original schedule also featured a Charles I British Monarchs coin but that's not mentioned in the Proclamation. Too many Charles'?
New Bimetallic One Pound
We're definitely getting a new £1 coin in 2023. It's being issued to mark 40 years since the first of these decimal Pounds were put into circulation. The new design - the work of Kenyan-born British artist, Michael Armitage - will replace David Pearce's 'Nations Of The Crown' design, in use since 2017. The Mint has said that Armitage's One Pound:
'... will celebrate the culture, creativity, heritage and history of the UK in the 21st century.'
You'll be able to find this £1 in your change but there will also be commemorative editions available, likely in BU as well as gold and silver proof.
Windrush Generation Fifty Pence
In 1948 the HMT Empire Windrush carried 1027 passengers (plus two stowaways) from Jamaica to London. 75 years on, the ship's arrival has become symbolic of the generation of post-war migrants who came to live in Britain and The Royal Mint is acknowledging their contributions and struggles with a new 50p. The new coin features a design by Valda Jackson and was included in 2023 annual commemorative sets.
We have yet to see these coins in an individual presentation but you can sign up for product alerts now for the silver proof 50p and the brilliant uncirculated edition.
The 2023 Windrush 50p features two Windrush migrants against a Union Jack flag.
National Health Service Fifty Pence
The other 50p included in 2023 annual sets celebrates the NHS. The UK's National Health Service was founded in 1948, bringing universal healthcare, free at the point of service, to all Brits. The NHS is a massive point of national pride, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic so it's great to see this new design by Alice Lediard issued to mark the institution's 75th anniversary.
The Royal Mint previously marked fifty years of the NHS with another 50p (we've got 1998 piedfort silver proof and gold proof editions in stock now). Sign up for email alerts to get notified when the 2023 coin comes into stock in an individual BU and silver proof presentation.
The 2023 National Health Service Fifty Pence uses words associated with the NHS for a modern, graphic design.
Edward Jenner Two Pound
The first Two Pound release of 2023 commemorates the achievements of British physician Edward Jenner. Known as 'the father of immunology', Jenner pioneered the world's first smallpox vaccine. The new Edward Jenner £2 - designed by Henry Gray - is the first coin of this denomination to join The Royal Mint's Innovation in Science series which has previously only featured 50ps. This 2023 coin is available now in BU, silver proof, piedfort silver proof and gold proof as well as in new commemorative annual sets.
The new 2023 Edward Jenner 50p makes a nod to the millions of lives saved by the smallpox vaccine.
Flying Scotsman Two Pound
Another new bimetallic coin is coming soon in an individual presentation to mark 100 years since the 4472 Flying Scotsman entered service. Built in 1923, the world record-setting steam train ran between London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. Today you can see this LNER locomotive at the National Railway Museum in York. The new £2 coin from veteran designer John Bergdahl is only available in 2023 annual sets right now but we’re anticipating a single coin release later this year in BUnc, silver proof, piedfort silver proof and gold proof.
The Flying Scotsman 2023 Two Pound coin shows the LNER train steaming along the tracks.
J R R Tolkien Two Pound
J R R Tolkien - author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - passed away in 1973. Fifty years on, the father of modern fantasy literature joins a very small group of British authors to be celebrated on coinage with a Two Pound decorated with his distinctive monogram, designed by David Lawrence. The edge reads 'NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST' on most editions: a line from The Riddle of Strider from The Fellowship of the Ring. Again, these Tolkien 2 Pounds will be available soon in BU, silver proof, piedfort silver proof and gold proof finishes but you can see them now in annual sets.
This official J R R Tolkien 2023 coin features letting and runic symbols associated with the author and his Lord of the Rings series.
King Charles Birthday Crown
The King turns 75 on 14 November 2023 and it looks like The Royal Mint are giving him a present in the form of a Five Pound coin with floral details, created by Dan Thorne. The design is a nod to Charles III's dedication to the environment and includes an edge inscription that reads 'RESTORING HARMONY WITH NATURE'. In addition to the annual set editions, we will soon be able to enjoy this Five Pound birthday coin in an individual presentation, likely in BU, silver proof, piedfort silver proof and gold proof.
Dan Thorne's 2023 King Charles Birthday £2 coin incorporates bees, a dragonfly and acorns, as well as the royal cypher.
Roosevelt And Churchill Bullion Coins
A 16 December 2022 Proclamation teases a new investment collection themed around the so-called 'Special Relationship' between the United Kingdom and the United States. The phrase comes from a 1946 speech by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who features on these 1/4oz gold and 1oz silver bullion coins alongside President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The inscription will read 'UNITED STATES – UNITED KINGDOM A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP' along with the date and composition. The concept was originally scheduled for a 2021 release and appears to have been revived.
The same Proclamation indicates that these will be accompanied by new Royal Arms bullion coins as well as new additions to the Gold Standard range in 1/10oz, 1/4oz, 1/2oz and 1oz sizes.
Share Your Thoughts
What new UK coins are you looking forward to in 2023? Have we missed any? Let us know over on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. We'll be sharing lots of information about upcoming releases in the New Year over on YouTube so make sure to follow us on there too!
Frequently Asked Questions
We're eagerly anticipating the release of the 2023 King Charles III Sovereign, due out sometime in 2023 though we don't have an exact date yet from The Royal Mint.
It looks like we'll still get a 2023 Charles III just a little later than we expected after the surprise release of the 2022 Memorial Sovereign. These new 22-carat gold Royal Mint coins should be available sometime soon.
UK 2023 annual sets were released early in the year though shipping on these sought-after sets has been delayed by The Royal Mint.
UK coins issued in 2023 will all feature a portrait of King Charles III on the heads side. Coins with a portrait of The Queen can still be used and will not be withdrawn immediately.
The Royal Mint release new coins throughout the year. Usually, we can expect new annual sets to be issued early in the new year. Sometimes new coins are released to coincide with anniversaries.
The Britannia Coin Company supplies Royal Mint coins to customers around the world for a flat £15 delivery fee, regardless of the size of your order. All shipments are tracked and insured.
We can expect a new 2023 Sovereign from The Royal Mint in 2023 as well as an NHS 50p, a Windrush 50p, an Edward Jenner £2, a Flying Scotsman £2, a J R R Tolkein £2, a King Charles £5 to be released sometime this year.
The UK's Royal Mint released 2023 commemorative annual sets early in the year but without the usual definitive coins. We're hoping we see these later this year, perhaps after the new £1 coin is issued.
Coins with a portrait of King Charles III on them can already be found in change though these new issues are not very common yet. Change checkers are frantically looking for new nature-inspired 'definitive' coins which have reportedly been put into circulation.
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