A Royal Milestone: King Charles III's first 5p coins enter circulation

• First 5p coins featuring His Majesty King Charles II effigy now available across the UK.

• Release follows demand for 5p coins, marking the first time this denomination bearing King Charles III's portrait enters circulation.

• This is the first design change for the 5p in circulation in 17 years.

• Coins available at bank branches, and Post Office branches including specially selected Oak-named branches nationwide including Jubilee Oak Post Office in Braintree.

The Royal Mint has announced that 23.2 million King Charles III's first 5p coins are entering circulation across the UK. The coins, dated and minted in October 2023, are being released due to increased demand for the 5p denomination, marking a significant milestone in British numismatic history.

This represents the first time the 5p denomination has entered circulation bearing His Majesty King Charles III's official portrait. The release creates another opportunity for coin collectors and the public to find these historic pieces in their everyday change.

Jubilee Oak Post Office in Braintree Post Office is one of the aptly-named branches specifically chosen to receive an amount of the new 5p coin featuring the King’s effigy and an oak leaf design on the other side.

Branch Manager Vasanthi Balachandar is pictured for the national launch with the beautiful new coin at Jubilee Oak Post Office and Jubilee Oak Express convenience store at Cressing Road. In 1887 the Jubilee Oak was planted very close to this store to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. There had been a band and a crowd of several hundred people gathered to mark the occasion.

Originally there were no houses in this part of Braintree and anywhere near here was described as being “up by the Jubilee oak” or also affectionately known as “Jibley Oak”. The area then built up and the tree was at the junction of Cressing Road and Coggeshall Road and encircled by its original iron seat.

The original oak was felled in 1986 as it was no longer in a good condition and this allowed for road improvement works. A replacement oak was planted in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The latter was part of the Green Heart of Essex campaign, which provided communities with free oak trees to mark the Diamond Jubilee. It is on the green at Beckers Green Road and is thriving.

Since the introduction of His Majesty's portrait on UK coinage in 2022, collectors have been eagerly seeking coins bearing the new royal effigy. With King Charles III coins representing approximately 0.2% of the 24.605 billion coins currently in circulation across the UK, these new 5p pieces are highly sought after by both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.

The new 5p coins feature the oak tree leaf design on the reverse (tails), signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in British woodland areas. Supporting more life than any other native UK tree species, the oak tree has a long association with monarchs. The design is part of His Majesty's Definitive collection, inspired by flora and fauna of the British Isles and highlighting King Charles III's passion for conservation.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: "We are delighted to see His Majesty's first 5p coins entering circulation following public demand. The oak leaf design beautifully represents the deep connection between our monarchy and the natural world, reflecting King Charles III's lifelong dedication to environmental conservation. These coins offer the public a wonderful opportunity to discover a piece of living history in their everyday change, and for many, finding one of these special coins could be the beginning of a fascinating journey into the world of coin collecting.”

Rebecca continues, “It is rare for the 5p design to change, with the last design, forming part of the shield, entering circulation in 2008. This makes it not only the first time the 5p depicts His Majesty King Charles III's effigy, but also the first design change for one of the smallest coins in circulation in 17 years.”

The coins will be available through post offices and bank branches nationwide. The Royal Mint has also allocated a special quantity to Post Office branches with "Oak" in their name, creating a unique connection between the coin's design and its distribution. These branches include;

• The Oaks Post Office, Northern Ireland.
• Jubilee Oak Post Office, Braintree.
• Oaktree Road Post Office, Southampton.
• Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield.
• County Oak, Brighton.
• Allerton Road Post Office (Allerton Oak), Allerton Liverpool.

Russell Hancock, Supply Chain Director at Post Office, said: “We are incredibly proud to support the entry and circulation of this first 5p coin to bear His Majesty King Charles III's official portrait. We know that many coin enthusiasts visit our branches and so we’re particularly pleased that our postmasters who operate branches with “Oak” in their name, or are located close to famous oak trees, will receive a special quantity.”

This is the third denomination bearing King Charles III’s portrait to enter circulation, the 5p follows on from the 50p and £1 coin having entered circulation since 2022.

The Royal Mint encourages the public to check their change over the coming weeks, as these new coins begin to appear in tills and pockets across the nation. All UK coins bearing the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender and in active circulation, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal environmental impact and cost.