New 10p coin enters circulation - will you spot one?
The coin has been designed to feature King Charles III and a Scottish grouse close to extinction.
A new 10p coin, featuring the capercaillie, has entered circulation. This marks the first time in approximately four years that newly minted 10p pieces are being released, driven by sufficient demand.
The Royal Mint has confirmed that these new 10p coins, which display a portrait of King Charles on one side and the world's largest grouse on the other, will be discoverable by shoppers and collectors nationwide. The coins were minted and dated in both 2023 and 2026.
The reverse side of the coin showcases an image of the capercaillie, a species found in a limited area of Scotland and currently facing the threat of extinction. This redesigned suite of coins, celebrating the King's appreciation for the natural world, was first unveiled by The Royal Mint in October 2023.
Every newly minted coin, from the 1p to the £2, now features the country's diverse flora and fauna on its "tails" side, ranging from bees to an oak tree leaf. Previously, coins in circulation in the UK bearing King Charles's portrait were restricted to the 5p, 50p, and £1 denominations.
Older coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II remain valid for use, meaning new coins are only produced to meet demand. With 1.4 billion 10p coins already in circulation, The Royal Mint had not needed to release new 10p coins until now.
A total of 600,000 of these new 10p coins, dated 2023, and 6.5 million dated 2026, have been distributed to banks and post offices across the country. However, King Charles III coins still constitute only about 1% of the 24.1 billion coins circulating in the UK, making any new releases highly sought after by both experienced numismatists and new coin collectors.
The capercaillie design on the coin's tails side is based on an illustration by artist Mike Langman, who previously worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and whose illustrations are visible across the charity's nature reserves.
The RSPB has stated that the UK capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it faces extinction for a second time and is listed on the UK conservation red list. Rebecca Morgan, director at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales, commented, "It's a stark reminder that more of these coins will enter circulation than there are capercaillies left in the wild." She added, "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."
Following the coins, Bank of England banknotes will also soon incorporate images of wildlife. Puffins, pine martens, and bumblebees are among the shortlisted animals for the next series of £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes. These will replace historical figures, such as Sir Winston Churchill. Hundreds of thousands of votes were cast in a public poll from a shortlist of 18 animals, birds, and insects. The Bank of England is currently considering these votes, along with security concerns, with Governor Andrew Bailey expected to make the final decision in the autumn.