Coronation: First crowned portrait of King Charles on special coins

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, A crowned King Charles with the King Edward crown on the other side of the special 拢5 coin

The Royal Mint has revealed a range of commemorative coins to celebrate King Charles's coronation, including a 50p and a 拢5 coin.

Unlike the 50p coins which are to go into circulation at the end of this year, these coins are the first ones that show the new King with a crown.

The first official crowned coinage portrait of His Majesty The King was designed by artist Martin Jennings.

While the 拢5 coin features a crown on the other side, the 50p coin shows Westminster Abbey where the King is to be crowned in May.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, The new coin being pressed

Although King Charles is wearing a crown on the coin, it won't be the one he will wear at his coronation.

The Tudor crown shown on the coin was actually destroyed in the 1640s.

Despite that, it has been used on previous crowned portraits of Kings from the 20th century.

The other side of the 拢5 coin has the King Edward crown which King Charles will be crowned with at Westminster Abbey.

Oxford-based artist Martin Jennings said: "Following my work on the uncrowned coin effigy of His Majesty, I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work on a crowned version for the coronation range.

"Each detail of the crown has to be scrupulously correct so it has taken considerable work to get it right. I'm proud to have had the opportunity to realise a design that is both dignified and celebratory for this historic occasion."

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, The special 50p has a drawing of Westminster abbey where the coronation is taking place

The 50p coin features a drawing of Westminster Abbey by The Royal Mint's resident designer Natasha Jenkins.

The image also includes King Charles's cypher and crown to symbolise him being inside the abbey where he is to be crowned.

The 50p coins will be available to buy from April 24, but unlike the uncrowned versions these ones will set people back between 拢11 and 拢1,220, while the 拢5 coins are priced between 拢14.50 and 拢2,995.